What Does A Dentist See In Your Mouth?

If eyes are the window of the soul, than the mouth is the window to your physical well being. Swollen or receded gums, tooth decay, tooth loss and other tooth and mouth illnesses can be the signs of other, greater health issues, such as heart problems, diabetes, cancer, vitamin deficiency, and can have other, more far reaching consequences, such as premature birth.

It seems that oral disorders are a better and more accurate way to diagnose heart disease than usual signs, such as low levels of “good” cholesterol, high triglyceride and fibrinogens. In many cases the dentists are the first to diagnose an illness, due to the signs becoming apparent in the mouth before they become apparent anywhere else, and this is why this form of diagnosis is still taught to would be dentists in university.

What Can A Dentist Diagnose?

Diabetes

Undiagnosed diabetes, or the faulty diagnosis of existing diabetes coupled with unhealthy blood sugar levels can become visible in the mouth. Patients suffering from diabetes a 3-4 times more likely to contract some sort of oral illness, although if properly maintained, diabetics can have oral hygiene that is just as good as anyone else’s.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis and tooth loss go hand in hand, because this disease involves a great loss of the essential minerals needed to maintain healthy teeth. Since osteoporosis makes the bones brittle, it is no surprise that the jawbone, and thus the teeth and oral cavity, is also affected. This disease usually affects women, in their early teens, during pregnancy and around the time of menopause as well.

Heart Disease

Swollen gums and inflammations around the molars and wisdom teeth can be an early indicator of heart disease. Plaque found on teeth of heart disease victims usually matches the plaque found in the heart valves and the walls of hardened arteries of the victim’s heart.

Other diseases:

Leukemia can cause red and swollen gums.  

Bulimia also causes visible deterioration of the teeth and specifically the enamel of the lingual side of the teeth are affected, and recessed gums may also affect the patient.

Certain diseases of the kidneys can also be diagnosed by way of gum diseases.

GERD, or reflux diseases can also affect your teeth.

Vitamin deficiencies can also be spotted in the mouth, iron deficiencies lead to dryness of the mouth and the toughening of the tongue. Bleeding gums are a common sign of vitamin C deficiency, while a lack of D-vitamins will lead to a glassjaw and inflammation of the tooth sockets.

Certain pharmaceuticals can also cause tooth illnesses, antidepressants and medication taken for high blood pressure as well as antihistamines taken for allergies.   

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