Your dentist can tell a lot about you and your overall health just by examining your mouth. They can judge your dental habits, tell what types of things you like to eat and drink, spot signs of various conditions and diseases (such as oral cancer), and so much more. They can also tell if you bite your nails and or have an eating disorder.
Dental Health and Your Mouth
Bad Habits
Your dentist can see proof of habits like teeth grinding when you have worn down tooth enamel. They might think you bite your nails if you have flattened or chipped teeth.
Oral Hygiene
This is the most obvious thing for any dentist to notice about your mouth. What type of oral hygiene habits you have due to your brushing and flossing (or lack thereof) by looking for tartar buildup and the condition of your gums (do they bleed easily or look inflamed).
Tooth Decay and Gum Disease
Your dentist can easily spot plaque buildup, cavities, and signs of gum disease because of inflammation, redness, and bleeding in your mouth.
Tobacco and Vape Use
Nicotine (smoking or chewing) causes teeth staining, bad breath, tooth decay, oral cancer, slow healing, and so much more.
Some people think that vaping is better than smoking. While some vaping options do not contain tobacco, they can still cause other problems such as staining the teeth, dry mouth, tooth decay, gum disease, oral lesions, and many of the same side effects as traditional nicotine has.
Eating Disorders
Your dentist can detect signs of acid reflux and bulimia due to tooth erosion.
Pregnancy
Pregnant? Your dentist can tell (even before your baby bump is showing). Gingivitis is present in about 30-50% of pregnant women. The increased tenderness and bleeding of your gums can easily be detected at a dental appointment. Sometimes lumps will appear along the gumline while you’re pregnant. Not to worry, though; they should go away after you’ve given birth.
Oral cancer
Did you know that every time you visit the dentist, they check your mouth for oral cancer? It’s true. Signs of oral cancer may include a sore that bleeds easily and doesn’t go away, a white patch, or a hard lump.
Acid reflux
Signs of acid reflux in your mouth and on your teeth may include sensitivity to hot or cold liquids, a change in your fillings, and teeth turning yellow. In really bad cases, you can have abscesses or tooth loss.
Dry Mouth
Your dentist can assess if you have dry mouth, which can be caused by various factors, including medications and sleep apnea. We will identify potential treatment options.
Vitamin Deficiency
Certain vitamin deficiencies show up in the mouth through cavities, bleeding gums, cracked lips, gum recession, tooth discoloration, and teeth sensitivity. Talk with our dental office about which vitamins will help with your overall oral health.
Sleep Apnea
One of the signs of Sleep Apnea is teeth grinding. Your dentist will see signs of this during your oral exam. With further questioning about other symptoms you may have, this may lead to the conclusion that you suffer from sleep apnea. Learn more about this issue here. Contact our office for further Sleep Apnea testing.
Overall Health
- Heart Disease: Gum disease (periodontitis) can be linked to your cardiovascular problems.
- Diabetes: If you have diabetes, you are prone to gum disease, abscesses, and slower healing, which your dentist can observe.
- Autoimmune Diseases: Some autoimmune diseases can show up as sores or lesions in your mouth.
- Kidney Disease: Bad breath and dry mouth can be signs that you may have kidney issues.
- Sinus Infections: Sinus infections can cause tooth pain and pressure, which your dentist can differentiate from a toothache.
- Other Conditions: Your dentist might also be able to spot signs of conditions like osteoporosis or even certain gastrointestinal diseases by examining your mouth.
Your Mouth is a Window to Your Health
To sum it all up, your mouth is a window to your overall health, and a dentist’s trained eye can reveal a lot about your well-being beyond just your teeth.