What Your Teeth & Oral Health Reveal About Your Health

Your teeth and oral health can suffer due to many reasons. While it is common for sugary and starchy foods to cause cavities and gum disease, other health conditions can also be the reason for poor oral health. While examining your oral health your dentist may spot some early signs of other diseases as well, such as anemia. This article lists diseases your teeth and oral health can tell you.

anemia

If you’re anaemic, your mouth may become painful and pale, while your tongue may swell and become smooth. Anemia is a condition in which either your body lacks sufficient red blood cells or the hemoglobin in your red blood cells is insufficient. This results in the inability of your body to receive enough oxygen. Other symptoms of anemia include weakness and tiredness, shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness, and an irregular heartbeat.

It is important to note that mere pale gums are not a confirmation of anemia. You need to have blood tests to confirm it. However, in some cases, your mouth color can help your dentist to recommend you to a hematologist.

Heart disease

If you have gum disease, there are chances that you might be at a higher risk of having heart disease. This is because the mouth bacteria can travel from your mouth through the bloodstream, leading to high-risk conditions, like stroke.

Also read: Your Oral Health Might Affect Your Heart Health, Here’s What You Need to Know

stress

By looking at the condition of your teeth, your dentist may identify that you are under constant stress. Stress, though caused by several reasons, can wreck your teeth and cause problems in your gums. Under stress people clench or grind their teeth, leading to the wearing of their teeth.

Kidney disease

Your oral health gets affected if you suffer from kidney disease. Kidney disease can cause sores in the mouth, changes in taste, and dry mouth. Due to a dry mouth, the risk of pH alteration in the mouth increases, causing damage to tooth decay, which eventually leads to tooth loss. Furthermore, the research also discovered the link between gum health and kidney disease.

osteoporosis

Your teeth can also be affected by osteoporosis, often called a silent killer. The condition is named so because people do not realize they suffer from it until their bones begin to break. Your teeth are supported by the bone that surrounds them. Your dentist may be the first to notice a systemic decrease in bone density caused by osteoporosis. An early sign of this disease may be seen in teeth that move more often than usual during a dental examination. In these circumstances, it is advised to get a doctor-assisted bone density test.

Diabetes

The link between diabetes and poor oral health is well established. Your elevated blood sugar levels can affect your gums, leading to periodontitis. Among many reasons for uncontrolled sugar levels, gum diseases can be one of them. So, it becomes important to manage your blood sugar levels to have healthy gums.

Also read: Dental Health: 7 Ways to Maintain Good Oral Health Post-35

eating disorders

Your damaged teeth may also be a sign of eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia. Bulimia is an illness which is characterized by a cycle of binge eating and sell-vomiting. This condition often leads to tooth decay. This is because the stomach acid from vomiting can erode tooth enamel. Your teeth may become sensitive or get discolored due to acidic action.

Additionally, purging may result in swelling of the mouth, throat, and salivary gland, as well as cause bad breath. Serious nutritional deficiencies that can harm the health of your teeth can also be brought on by eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, and others.

Conclusion

These are some diseases that your oral health may indicate. However, this is not to be taken as conclusive evidence of the diseases. A thorough examination will only confirm and tell if you are suffering from a particular disorder.

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