Visiting a dentist may not be your “dream” date, but it is essential because they not only see your oral health, but also give you advice on overall health.
Good oral hygiene not only protects you against tooth decay and bad breath. It is very important as it can help prevent certain medical conditions like cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
And one more thing: A dental, oral and gum condition can "reveal" to your doctor about other problems you need to deal with. By examining your teeth, your doctor can identify eating disorders, sleep problems, anxiety, stress and so on.
Here are some of the things your doctor can see about your overall health just by examining your mouth:
1. Anxiety or poor sleep
Teeth can be a clue of any anxiety you may feel. Stress, anxiety, or a sleep disorder can cause teeth grinding. Bruxism, the medical term for the condition, is common in people with obstructive sleep apnea.
Charles Rankin, a lecturer at Tufts University School of Medicine, explains that healthy teeth reach a certain height and have irregular serrated teeth. "Grinding of teeth [at night] reduces the length of teeth".
The most important thing you can do if you grind your teeth is to ask your doctor about using a tooth guard at night to prevent this.
Then, the patient needs to participate in an exercise program or psychological counseling.
2. Eating disorder
Certain types of eating disorders, such as anorexia or anorexia, may be apparent to a dentist. Research shows that stomach acid caused by vomiting, which is linked to these conditions, can erode both tooth enamel and dentin, the softer coating underneath the enamel. Corrosion is usually found on the back of the tooth.
But while enamel erosion can prompt a doctor to learn about an eating disorder, it's not always the culprit. Worn enamel can be genetic or congenital. Even acid reflux can be the cause.
3. Diet
Coffee, tea, sauces like marinara, energy drinks and dark berries often leave stains on teeth. So did chocolate, candy, and dark soda.
"But there are things you can do," Rankin said. "For example, drinking coffee and soda through a straw - leaving it out of contact with teeth. Rinsing and brushing your teeth right after eating will help a lot."
And we all know that sugar can cause tooth decay. But according to Rankin, if a patient really brushed their teeth and flossed after each candy, the risk of having a tooth problem would be much smaller.
4. Alcohol abuse
Alcohol abuse can disrupt good oral hygiene habits and doctors can smell alcohol in a patient's breath.
A 2015 study in the journal Periodontology also found some association between alcohol consumption and oral health. Brazilian researchers found that gum disease, or periodontitis, increased with alcohol consumption.
Research also shows that poor oral hygiene is a common trait among people who drink too much. Subjects without gum disease had more tartar than non-drinkers, possibly because alcohol slows down saliva production and dries out the mouth.
5. Heart disease or diabetes
Among those who do not know if they have diabetes, poor gum condition has been linked with diabetes. This is a rather important sight in which a dentist can help detect diabetes.
The relationship between periodontitis and diabetes is not fully understood, but researchers know it is a two-way relationship: Diabetes increases the risk of gum disease, and inflammatory gingivitis. Negative impact on the ability to control blood sugar, according to a study published in the journal Diabetologia, and it is possible that inflammation of the gums causes an association between gum disease, diabetes and periodontitis.
Furthermore, people with diabetes are 3 times more likely to suffer from this most severe type of gum disease. So if you have diabetes or heart disease, keep your teeth healthy by doing regular oral hygiene, brushing your teeth and flossing. It is possible that the bacteria that live under the gums become inflamed and make the illness worse.
Just like keeping every area of your body healthy, it's best to keep an eye out for anything that doesn't seem right and stay curious about what's going on in your mouth. This includes being alert for pain, swelling, bleeding gums, broken or loose teeth, and worn enamel.
"If doctors examine and find these signs, they will have to raise suspicions," Rankin said. "But the patient is really the first line of defense."
Take care of your smile - and your health.
