Your mouth holds important clues about what’s going on in the rest of your body. In fact, information relating to over 120 diseases can be found from regular examinations of the mouth, head, and neck. This fact makes regular dental visits and oral examinations even more important. Many patients may not take dental examinations as seriously as medical examinations but it’s a fact that many diseases may show up in the oral cavity before any other part of your body .
Anaemia
If the lining of the mouth is very pale coloured or the tongue smooth looking, the dentist may suspect anaemia.
Diabetes
Diabetics are more prone to gum disease, so bleeding gums or mobile teeth and high level of dental decay may be indicators of this disease. A distinctive breath odor and infections in the mouth is also a sign. A slower healing and dry mouth also indicates probable diabetes.
Anorexia nervosa and bulimia:
Chemical erosion of tooth enamel, fillings that appear to be raised above the eroded tooth surfaces, sensitive teeth, enlargement of parotid glands.
Deficiencies
They may be seen as oral ulcers in the mouth.
Heart disease
Anginal pains can radiate to the jaw thus mimicking pain of dental origin.
Vitamin C deficiencies or Leukaemia
Swollen and bleeding gums that cannot be explained by any other cause.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Jaw swelling and an inability to open the mouth properly may indicate that the patient is suffering from rheumatoid arthritis – an auto-immune disease that can affect people of all ages.
Osteoporosis
Most common in post-menopausal women, osteoporosis can cause the bones to become fragile and that includes the bone that holds your teeth in place. This thinning of the bones may show up as receding gums and mobile teeth.
Oral Cancer
Tiny red or white patches or non healing ulcers in patients mouth can actually be oral cancer that can be spotted by routine oral examination, which can aid early detection and successful treatment.
AIDS
Thrush mouth, unexplained sores, non-removable white areas on the sides of the tongue.
If you have any of the above warning signs in your mouth visit us today.
