Osteoporosis and Gingivitis (Periodontitis) Correlate with Low Thyroid Levels

Oct. 5, 2011 - PRLog -- Thyroid hormones (generic Synthroid or levothyroxine) are the 4th most prescribed drug in the U.S., and 70.5 million prescriptions were written in 2010.  But are these people taking an optimal thyroid dose, that is, one that relieves all of their hypothyroid symptoms?  Or are they being dosed by their TSH (Thyroid Stimulating Hormone) lab value?  http://tiredthyroid.com/tsh.html  For many, TSH levels often do not reflect thyroid levels.   Because TSH can be artificially high or low and have no correlation to actual thyroid levels, many hypothyroids today remain on insufficient doses of thyroid medications.  They are considered to be correctly dosed as long as their TSH is anywhere in the “normal” range, even though they do not feel well.  Two increasingly common symptoms of low thyroid levels are osteoporosis and periodontitis, which often starts out as gingivitis, or gum disease.

Osteoporosis or bone loss can occur when thyroid levels are too high.  A low TSH is often found with high thyroid levels and can be diagnostic for hyperthyroidism.  What is not well known is that osteoporosis can also develop from low thyroid levels, which is not reflected by the TSH.  http://tiredthyroid.com/osteoporosis.html  High thyroid levels upregulate the genes involved with bone loss.  But thyroid hormones also upregulate the genes involved with bone generation, so if thyroid levels are kept too low, bone generation is impaired.  Doctors believe that a low TSH will lead to osteoporosis, so are reluctant to prescribe more thyroid hormone, even if the patient exhibits multiple hypothyroid symptoms.  They are unaware that many patients with a low TSH actually have low thyroid levels.  Because of the misleading TSH, patients are maintained on a thyroid replacement dose that is so low they still remain hypothyroid, and with time, they eventually develop low thyroid symptoms such as osteoporosis, gingivitis, periodontitis, high cholesterol, heart disease, depression, etc.  Because TSH is also used to diagnose hypothyroidism, many with low thyroid levels (but a normal TSH) are never diagnosed or treated.  With time, they too develop the diseases caused by low thyroid levels.

Gingivitis, periodontitis, bad teeth, dentures at age 25, and root canals at age 12 have been reported by members of thyroid internet forums.  Like bone health, there is a definite connection between dental health and optimal thyroid levels.  In fact, someone who is hypothyroid may have poor results with braces/orthodontics, because the roots of the teeth may resorb without adequate thyroid hormone.  This may only show up decades later when the teeth become loose.  Low thyroid levels can also cause weak bones that support the teeth, which eventually leads to loose teeth.  Dental implants may not be successful in a hypothyroid patient, because with insufficient thyroid hormone, less new bone is formed around the implants.

For medical journal references on osteoporosis, gingivitis, and other thyroid-related topics, visit http://tiredthyroid.com


TiredThyroid.com was created by a hypothyroid patient for all hypothyroid patients taking thyroid medication who don’t feel well, in spite of being told they are “just fine” because they have a normal TSH and labs that are in range.  The problems with current testing protocols and lab ranges are explained and documented with medical journal references for patients and their doctors.