Iron deficiency anemia also puts you at risk for periodontitis, or gum disease. Fortunately, this type of anemia can often be treated by taking in more iron.
Iron and other vitamins are essential for good oral health. The iron helps keep the teeth strong and the vitamins help keep the teeth and gums healthy. If the teeth and do not get the nutrients they need because of anemia, they can suffer. They become more prone to tooth decay and gum disease.
Anemia can cause your gums to be pale, which some have labeled "anemia gums." Instead of a typical, healthy pink, the gums take on a faded or whiter shade of their standard color. This paleness can also impact the tongue and mucous membranes inside your mouth.
And because anemia affects the whole body, your oral health isn't immune. It's not just a matter of pale gums. Iron deficiencies can cause: Sores and ulcers in the mouth.
Iron deficiency can also cause the appearance of sore, red, flaky cracks at one or both of the sides of your mouth. This feels more extreme than when your lips are chapped due to cold weather. Mouth ulcers are sore white patches on the inside your mouth.
Iron deficiency anemia may cause symptoms in the mouth, although they are less common than other symptoms, such as tiredness and lack of energy. Mouth symptoms of anemia may include pale gums, mouth ulcers, and food tasting unusual.
VITAMIN B12. A Vitamin B12 deficiency can increase your risk of a severe form of gum disease called periodontitis.
Anemia. If your dentist notices symptoms like pale tissues and gums and a smooth tongue, it can be an indication of anemia. Dentists will also check for your medical history and current medications to understand if your other health conditions are causing you to be anemic.
What Color are Unhealthy Gums? Disease-causing bacteria can cause gums to become inflamed, which can sometimes lead to bright red gums. In other cases, the bacteria can cause an infection that results in white or blue gums. And in severe cases, the infection can cause the gums to turn black.
Mild cases of gum recession may be improved with nonsurgical treatments, such as topical antibiotics, dental bonding or orthodontics. In most instances, however, gum recession surgery is needed to fully correct the problem.
Gum Disease: Children with a vitamin B12 deficiency are often at risk of developing periodontal disease later on in their life, according to various studies. Within these studies, low levels of vitamin B12 are more likely to have periodontal disease than those who have high levels of vitamin B12.
A Vitamin Deficiency
Deficiencies in vitamin C and B vitamins are the most common vitamin deficiencies that can result in swollen gums. If you have swollen gums and you do not eat a very nutritious diet, you may want to consider that a vitamin deficiency could be the problem.
There are a number of factors that can cause your gums to recede, including: Periodontal diseases. These are bacterial gum infections that destroy gum tissue and supporting bone that hold your teeth in place. Gum disease is the main cause of gum recession.
The simple answer is, no. If your gums are damaged by, for example periodontitis, the most severe form of gum disease, it's not possible for receding gums to grow back. However, even though receding gums can't be reversed there are treatments that can help to stop the problem from getting worse.
Although you can't regrow your gum tissue, a thorough cleaning can reset your oral health if you maintain healthy brushing and flossing habits.
See your GP if you experience symptoms of iron deficiency anaemia, such as tiredness, shortness of breath and heart palpitations. A simple blood test can usually confirm the diagnosis. Your GP may also carry out a physical examination and ask you a number of questions to help determine the cause of your anaemia.
You may also find that low iron causes weight gain. There are a couple of reasons for this; firstly, your energy levels are low and so your exercise levels reduce; secondly, iron is essential for thyroid function, and an underactive thyroid will lead to weight gain.
Pale gums may indicate that a person has anemia, which is often the result of an iron deficiency. However, if the gums are white or painful, the cause may be more serious. Healthy gums should be a relatively consistent shade of pink.
If left untreated, iron-deficiency anemia can cause serious health problems. Having too little oxygen in the body can damage organs. With anemia, the heart must work harder to make up for the lack of red blood cells or hemoglobin. This extra work can harm the heart.
As the anemia gets worse, symptoms may include: Brittle nails. Blue color to the whites of the eye. Desire to eat ice or other non-food things (pica)
– It usually takes 2 to 3 weeks of taking regular iron supplements before your symptoms start to improve. – You may need to keep taking iron for several months to build up your iron reserves and keep your anemia from returning. Take your pills for as long as your doctor recommends, even if your symptoms have improved.