Whether you’re a talker or on the shy side in your personal life, your teeth have a lot to say about your overall health. So when you make your regular dental visit, your doctor can look out for the following conditions that may be affecting your overall health:
8. Alcoholism
Surprise, surprise, a dentist can smell alcohol on your breath. Alcoholics are also more likely to develop gum disease, which may be connected to the fact that drinkers are more likely to have poor oral hygiene. Alcohol can also help keep plaque and bacteria alive. It makes your body slower in saliva production that would normally help to wash away unwanted plaque. Less saliva also results in dry mouth giving just one more indicator from your body that you’re abusing your alcohol intake.
9. Heart Disease
Gum disease which can show up as red, puffy, or even bleeding gums, is linked to heart disease. Treating gum disease can actually produce a healthier outcome of heart disease. This shows once again how important dental health is to your overall health as heart disease is the world’s number one killer for both men and women.
10. Osteoporosis
This condition of fragile bones has been linked to gum disease. The disease may also damage a person’s jaw. It can additionally result in a loss of teeth. If the jaw does become damaged it can make it difficult to wear dentures or have them fit properly in place. Regular dental visits are necessary to delay, correct, or prevent any oral health problems related to osteoporosis.
11. Overwhelming Stress
Grinding or clenching your teeth might just be a result of stress. Dentists may be able to tell your stress levels from flatted teeth, abnormal bites, or even missing or crooked teeth all of which are related to bruxism, a condition where patients consistently grind their teeth or clench their jaw tightly. Gum disease and canker sores can also be related to stress.
12. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Acid from your stomach can actually wear away at your teeth. It can show up on the backside of your teeth where it may actually destroy enamel as well as the layer beneath your enamel known as dentine. This erosion is particularly prominent in the elderly, but at no age should it be considered normal. Recurring acid reflux can be harmful to your whole body and should be discussed with your doctor immediately.
13. Problematic Medications
When a medication is off, your gums can begin to grow over your teeth. Swelling gums is an easy indicator that your current medication needs to be adjusted. Certain drugs will accelerate the growth of your gums which in turn makes it difficult to keep up with basic dental hygiene and poor dental care can result in gum disease. So if your gums are growing over your teeth speak with your doctor to have your medication balanced at a healthier rate.
14. An Eating Disorder
Some eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia can affect your teeth and the condition will become clearly apparent to your dentist. Purging occurs in both of these conditions and gastric acid from your stomach can wear away at the enamel of your teeth as well as dentine, which is the softer layer beneath the enamel. This damage is typically seen on the backside of your teeth.
At the end of the day, oral health is a reflection of your overall health. That means you should never skip a dental checkup, as your dentist may be the first step to noticing a larger problem in your health. For more revelations, your teeth may show about your health refer to 14 Things Your Teeth Can Reveal About Your Overall Health: Part 1.