Aside from pointing out the evident cavity or stained teeth, dentists can tell if you are sick, highly stressed, and even pregnant! The list is extensive because “good dental health is a reflection of good health overall.” Here are a handful of things that can be discovered or learned from your visits to the dentist.
Your mouth can tell you a lot about the health of your body. The mouth shows signs of tooth decay, gum disease and other oral health problems. It can also show signs of other disease, if you're missing certain foods from your diet and unhealthy habits such as using tobacco and tobacco-like products, and alcohol.
Unhealthy Gums. If you have healthy gums, they will look firm and pink. Some signs of unhealthy gums include redness and swelling, gums that bleed when you brush or floss your teeth, and gums that appear to be pulling away from the teeth.
Many dentists routinely check for mouth and oropharyngeal cancer. So they are often the first people to spot the early signs of cancer. If the dentist suspects cancer they can refer you to a specialist. Report any changes to your GP or dentist, especially if you smoke and drink a lot of alcohol.
In addition to checking your gums and mouth, your dentist will also inspect your neck, jaw and lymph nodes (found just underneath your jaw line) for any abnormal swelling or suspicious lumps. Enlarged lymph nodes or glands can be felt as lumps in the neck, and they are a common first symptom of leukaemia.
Even if you may not be aware you have symptoms of diabetes, your dentist or optometrist may notice them during routine exams. An oral exam can help detect more than 120 diseases, including diabetes, that show early symptoms in the mouth and jaw.
In its more serious form, called periodontitis, the gums can pull away from the tooth, bone can be lost, and the teeth may loosen or even fall out. Periodontal disease is mostly seen in adults. Periodontal disease and tooth decay are the two biggest threats to dental health.
Conditions Your Dentist Can Help Identify
Here are some other conditions identifiable by your oral health: Heart Disease. Studies show that gum disease and inflammation of the gums are associated with a higher risk for a heart attack or stroke.
Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is also known as dental caries or dental cavities. It is the most common dental problem that dentists see in patients. Practically everyone, at some point in their life, has experienced tooth decay. Tooth decay occurs when bacteria form a film, called plaque, on the surface of teeth.
There are many conditions we can identify during a visual examination of your oral cavity, even if you don't know you suffer from them. This includes mental health problems such as depression. Recent studies suggest that depression conclude depression is closely related to poor oral health.
Dentists are experts in keeping gums and teeth healthy. During a check-up they examine your mouth, teeth and gums to spot any problems. Dentist treatment for gum disease can often be the first defence against it and they may recommend a professional clean or scale and polish.
Your dentist always checks the back of your throat and tonsils to ensure there are no signs of infection or irritation.
During an oral cancer screening exam, your dentist looks over the inside of your mouth to check for red or white patches or mouth sores. Using gloved hands, your dentist also feels the tissues in your mouth to check for lumps or other abnormalities. The dentist may also examine your throat and neck for lumps.
Oral manifestations occur frequently in leukemic patients and may present as initial evidence of the disease (5). They include petechial hemorrhages of the tongue, lips, posterior hard and soft palate, gingival hyperplasia, spontaneous gingival bleeding, oral ulcerations and mucosal pallor (1, 5).
Sometimes a routine dental checkup can uncover lymphoma, a type of cancer, before other signs are even present. And while a cancer discovery is not welcomed, early detection is.
Such a lump may be caused by a gum or tooth abscess or by irritation. But, because any unusual growths in or around the mouth can be cancer, the growths should be checked by a doctor or dentist without delay. Noncancerous growths due to irritation are relatively common and, if necessary, can be removed by surgery.
Leukoplakia appears as thick, white patches on the inside surfaces of your mouth. It has a number of possible causes, including repeated injury or irritation. It can also be a sign of precancerous changes in the mouth or mouth cancer.
Dehydration can cause your mouth to get dry and you may see white patches in your mouth. Not taking care of your oral health by regularly brushing your teeth and tongue can also lead to white spots in your mouth. Having stones in your tonsils or salivary ducts could also lead to white spots in your mouth.
Some of the most common diseases that impact our oral health include cavities (tooth decay), gum (periodontal) disease, and oral cancer.
Sjogren's Syndrome is one of the most common autoimmune diseases that affect dental health.
Some of the most common causes include: not using the right toothpaste, not flossing, brushing too hard, and not brushing your teeth for a long enough time. Oral hygiene plays an integral role in balancing the health of your other body functions, whether you realize it or not.