Question:
Is my tooth breaking because of a Calcium Deficiency?

Hi, I'm 3 months post and haven't been too good at taking my calcium supplements very regularly at all. Well, all of a sudden, i noticed that one of my tooth is completely cracked at the base of it right at the gumline. Is this due to a calcium deficiency? This is scaring me so bad, I'm going to the dentist right away. And getting a liquid calcium citrate as well. I'm freaking out, please tell me what's going on and can i fix it at this point? or is it too late for all the damage that must have been done?    — Iris B. (posted on January 6, 2003)

January 5, 2003
I think its just a coincidence. I seriously doubt you could have that much damage that quick. But check with your dentist, he'll know.
   — Monica H.

January 5, 2003
Hi Iris, I don't think it's too late for you. Our body takes the calcium it needs from our bones when it doesn't get enough from what we eat or from the supplements we take. And the teeth are part of our bones. I had a lot of problems with my teeth way before WLS, but when I started taking calcium supplements, my teeth were much better. I can always tell if I'm not getting enough calcium because my teeth will start to ache and/or I get awful leg cramps at night. Whatever calcium supplement you take, please make sure it is CALCIUM CITRATE - not CALCIUM CARBONATE. I found a liquid form at Wal-Mart but it is only 200 mg of calcium carbonate. Not good enough for me. I take Citracal Plus (with Magnesium and Vitamin D). I buy it at Wal-Mart. No aching teeth and no leg cramps. If you read Michelle Curran's profile, you'll find that she developed osteoporosis when she took calcium carbonate (which is found in Tums and Viactiv) after WLS. I figure why take any chances? Initially, after WLS (open RNY 1/31/02, down 92 lbs) I was taking Viactiv, but this site has CONVINCED me that I needed the Calcium citrate. Michelle Curran is also the Vita-lady, so she could help you with what type is good for you. I consider Michelle an expert on WLS and vitamins, thanks Michelle, for ALL your GREAT advice!! Hope you don't mind my mentioning your name . . . Good luck Iris!!
   — [Deactivated Member]

January 6, 2003
I, too, don't think the lack of calcium in the short time span is effecting your teeth, but your dentist should be able to tell you. There are some calcium citrates out there that are liquid and plenty that are in pill and capsule form. I take one from Natures Science that come in 500 mg capsules (2 or 3 a day) that are calcium citrate with magnesium and Vit D. Quite reasonable in the 240 capsule bottles from www. vitalady.com. I was taking a liquid calcium citrate until i contacted the company and found out that the 750 mg it said it had per tablespoon on the label was actually only 250 mg of elemental calcium (what is absorbed in the body) and so I was taking way too little.
   — Cindy R.

January 6, 2003
Well. Thank you for the compliment. I'm not an expert, just a little ahead of everyone else. Hence, my BEING the learning curve, I suspect. The question would be----where were your calcium levels pre-op? Could be that you were saggy before you even started. Do you have a baseline dexascan and some pre-op blood work that might give you any clues? Calcium is a fairly slow mover, BUT in America, MANY of us, even full sized, already had bone damage. We look in all the wrong places for calcium food sources, hence the high incidence of bone damage. So, it's very possible that the damage was already in progress and then the massive wt loss + no calcium has expedited the process a bit.
   — vitalady