Iodine Deficiency

May 16, 2013
209 Views

Iodine Deficiency Hurts Mind-Body-Mouth

What All Mothers Need to Know About Children’s IQ and Dental Development

Question: What is the leading preventable cause of mental retardation?
Answer: Iodine Deficiency during pregnancy (1, 2)

Iodine deficiency is also linked to higher incidence of ADHD and lower IQ (3), and weak enamels and delayed eruption of teeth (4). Iodine is needed to make thyroid hormones to keep the body warm and all the cells working. The developing fetal brain is completely dependent on maternal thyroid in the first trimester (5).

A woman low on iodine and thyroid risk having children with low intelligence, short stature, underdeveloped jaws, and dental problems. Oral manifestations of endocrine dysfunction often may be observed initially by the dentist (6), including but not limited to:

  • Mouth breathing, large swollen tongue, anterior open bite, small jaws (4) — which are also risk factors for sleep apnea later
  • Dry mouth, which can lead to susceptibility to cavities and gum disease
  • Pain: “Low thyroid is almost a constant finding in Dental Distress Syndrome” (7)

Iodine-Pics

Common symptoms of low thyroid include:

  • Fatigue, weight gain, headache, brain fog
  • Thinning or missing outer third of the eye brow
  • Hoarse voice, puffy face, constipation, PMS
  • Cold hands & feet, thinning hair, fading memory
  • Hoarse voice, swollen tongue

A mother with these symptoms prior to or during pregnancy may wish to have her children checked for dental signs of iodine deficiency. For more information, click on Iodine And Your Child’s Brain Function And IQ by Dr.Joseph Mercola, which includes a lecture by endocrinologist Dr.Jorge Flechas, MD.

Iodine-Pics2

One gram of prevention beats a ton of cure. Here is what every woman needs to know about iodine deficiency:

  • “Even mild iodine deficiency during pregnancy, which may be present in some women in the United States, may be associated with low intelligence in children (8)
  • Iodine requirements are increased ≥ 50% during pregnancy (9)
  • Severe iodine deficiency in the mother has been associated with miscarriages, stillbirth, preterm delivery, congenital abnormalities (8) and learning disabilities (3)
  • Lower IQ of 12-13.5 points are seen in iodine deficient populations, whereas Iodine supplementation before or during early pregnancy generally increases developmental scores in young children by 10-20% (9)

Iodine and thyroid hormones require expert monitoring and balancing by medical professionals. For referral to a laboratory with special focus on thyroid testing, please contact us.

As part of a health care team, a dentist plays an important role in detecting thyroid abnormalities (10). Timely recognition and referral by a knowledgeable dentist at checkup time can contribute to the total health of children and mothers.

References:
Dunn JT, J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2001;14 Suppl 6:1469-73.
Delange F, Thyroid. 1994 Spring;4(1):107-28.
Vermiglio F, ADHD in Offsprings, J. Clinic. Endocr Metab, 2004, 89(2): 6054-60.
Chandna S, Indian J Endocrinol Metab. 2011 July; 15(Suppl2): S113–S116.
de Escobar GM, et al, Public Health Nutr. 2007 Dec;10(12A):1554-70.
Ionescu O, and others, Ann Endocrinol (Paris). 2004 Oct;65(5):459-65.
Fonders A , Dental Distress Syndrome Quantified, (1987) Basal Facts, 9(4), 141-167
American Thyroid Association.
Zimmerman MB, Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2012 Jul;26 Suppl 1:108-17.
Pinto A., Glick M., J Am Dent Assoc. 2002 Jul;133(7):849-58.

Recent Blogs

Alternatives to CPAP: 6 Ways to Treat Sleep Apnea Without CPAP

May 30, 2023

Imagine sleeping with a device that sends constant pressurized air to keep your airways open as you sleep – that is what a CPAP does for obstructive sleep apnea patients. However, there are options for sleep apnea treatment without CPAP. So, to stay informed on what the CPAP alternatives are, continue reading! What is Continuous […]

2585 Views Read more

Sinus & Tooth Pain: Exploring the Link Between Teeth & Sinuses

May 15, 2023

Did you know an infection in your sinuses can affect your teeth? Our entire body is interconnected, with no exclusion of any body part. Sinuses are located near your mouth, so when it becomes infected, the resulting pressure causes pain in the upper teeth. But how to know if you have sinus tooth pain or […]

4213 Views Read more

Waking Up Gasping for Breath: What is Your Body Trying to Tell You?

Apr 30, 2023

Imagine going to sleep after a long day, looking forward to a deep slumber – but it ends with you waking up gasping for breath. It can be pretty spine-chilling to catch your breath during sleep as if you’re choking. But what could be the reason? When you wake up with a gasp, it could […]

753 Views Read more

What’s the Link Between Sleep Apnea & Genetics?

Mar 15, 2023

Many individuals do not realize that the disorder they are suffering from might run in their family. If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with sleep apnea, there’s a possibility that it was passed down. The belief that there exists a connection between mouth and body is well-founded; sleep apnea is known to […]

85 Views Read more

Wellness While On Vacation

Oct 9, 2019

“I need another vacation to recover from this vacation!” Does that sound familiar? Or how about, “I’m on vacation, so I’m going to indulge, then diet after I get home”? What’s the point of going on vacation: to harm – or to restore – yourself? Is it possible to make wellness fun? I decided to […]

85 Views Read more

ABC Before D: Dr. Felix’s Guide to More Health at Less Cost

Aug 12, 2019

A quiet revolution is starting in medicine and dentistry: Chronic pain, fatigue, and overall health can be improved without drugs. Oral sleep appliances can activate stem cells around natural tooth roots to widen both the jaws and the airway, as I describe in Six-Foot Tiger, Three-Foot Cage and Early Sirens. “What you write in your […]

130 Views Read more

Fix Mouth Breathing with Buteyko Breathing

Dec 29, 2014

Got chapped lips, dry mouth, inflamed gum, bloating, snoring, bad breath, anxiety, and/or sleep apnea? Habitual Mouth Breathing (HMB) may be the culprit, and Buteyko Breathing can help. HMB is an unhealthy habit with many oral-systemic side effects. In children, HMB can lead to undesirable cranio-facial changes, narrowed jaws, crowded teeth, long face, weak chin, […]

140 Views Read more

Habitual Mouth Breathing: Damages and Solutions

Dec 15, 2014

Nose breathing is basic to natural health, while habitual mouth breathing (HMO) can contribute to cavities, bleeding gums, narrow jaws, crowded teeth, less attractive face, snoring, aging faster, and more — see over-breathing next. Are the lips of your child apart when she/he is sitting quietly? Are they dry and chapped? These small signs can […]

227 Views Read more
Skip to content