Dentists can detect clues about your overall health. Your mouth problems can be related to diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, certain types of cancers, among others. They may be the first to notice the symptoms and will refer you to a primary care doctor for follow-up.
Smoking impacts your teeth and gums in several ways. These impacts can be quickly identified by your dentist. So, yes, your dentist will know if you smoke. Among the telltale signs include yellow teeth, plaque, receding gums, and more.
During routine dental examinations and cleanings, dentists can detect oral symptoms of stress, including orofacial pain, bruxism, temporomandibular disorders (TMJ), mouth sores and gum disease. If you're feeling tense or anxious, you should keep a watchful eye for signs of the following stress-related disorders.
In many cases, a dentist may be the first health care provider to diagnose a health problem in its early stages since many people have regular oral examinations and see their dentist more often than their physician.
What kind of cancer can a dentist detect? A dentist can perform an oral exam of the inside and outside of your mouth area to look for signs of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.
5. Examining Your Tonsils: Your dentist will take a close look at your tonsils and throat for any signs of infection or swelling. Like the tongue, the tonsils can also tell a lot about any health concerns present in the body.
These are the top 5 health issues your teeth can reveal:
Changes in color, shape, translucency, or sensitivity may provide clues to an underlying problem that can lead to extensive decay and tooth loss over time. Pale gums can be caused by anemia, commonly due to an iron deficiency.
Similarly to flossing, your dental team will also be able to tell if you don't brush your teeth often enough or even if you brush too hard. Those who don't brush the recommended two times a day will often have larger areas of tartar buildup and puffy, red gums.
Oral anxiety is the stress effects on oral health. Stress or anxiety can impact your oral health; when you are stressed, your immune system is compromised, and while the cause of canker sores is not proven, there is some correlation or higher likelihood between lowered immune and those nasty painful canker sores.
Dental anxiety is fear, anxiety or stress associated with a dental setting. Being scared to visit the dentist can result in delaying or avoiding dental treatment. Things like needles, drills or the dental setting in general can trigger dental anxiety.
To conclude, though you might not immediately exhibit the tell-tale stains or smell of a smoker, your dentist will be able to deduce the other symptoms of vaping.
The answer is no – unless you walk into our office smelling like you've just gotten back from a tour with the Grateful Dead! The oral health effects of marijuana are quite similar to those of tobacco and are usually very mild. There is no way for a dentist to figure out if you smoke marijuana based only on your mouth.
X-rays help them see the condition of your teeth, roots, jaw placement and facial bone composition. They also help them find and treat dental problems early in their development. X-rays are a form of energy that can travel through or be absorbed by solid objects.
Part of your routine dental visit is a cancer screening test. Dentists and dental hygienists look at your mouth, tongue, and nearby tissue much more closely than you do. They can find pre-cancerous or cancerous spots in the early stages of growth.
Annual check-ups may help people avoid severe complications from both a dental and medical health perspective. Most people would be surprised to hear that dentists check the patient's face and neck for signs of disease, but it's true.
Some of the most common diseases that impact our oral health include cavities (tooth decay), gum (periodontal) disease, and oral cancer.
Some common mouth problems include: Cold sores - painful sores on the lips and around the mouth, caused by a virus. Canker sores - painful sores in the mouth, caused by bacteria or viruses. Thrush - a yeast infection that causes white patches in your mouth.
Oral cancer can present itself in many different ways, which could include: a lip or mouth sore that doesn't heal, a white or reddish patch on the inside of your mouth, loose teeth, a growth or lump inside your mouth, mouth pain, ear pain, and difficulty or pain while swallowing, opening your mouth or chewing.
The images don't only show all your teeth, but also your sinuses, jaw joints, and jaw bones. These photos can help determine if wisdom teeth are impacted and can even help diagnose a tumor.
The early signs of leukemia can usually manifest in the oral cavity due to infiltration of leukemic cells or due to associated decline in normal marrow elements, especially in the acute phase of leukemia, as common lesions at this stage of the disease can be screened and diagnosed by the dentist.