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Routine dental visits aren’t just vital to maintaining good oral health and keeping your teeth and gums looking and feeling their best, your dentist can also help you identify other possible health problems you may not even know you have yet. Think of your mouth as an early warning system for your overall well-being as a number of major health issues show their first symptoms in your gums and teeth. If you are experiencing swelling in the gum or bad breath that you can’t seem to get rid of, these could be indications of more than just poor brushing.
1. Diabetes
Patients showing significant symptoms of gum disease such as periodontitis could be displaying signs of diabetes. This is indicated by major infections visible at the gum line, loose teeth, and bleeding or swollen gums. All of these could point to an inability in the body to control blood sugar and while routine visits to the dentist for your regular cleaning and checkup can combat gum disease, it’s even more important for diabetes sufferers.
2. Heart Disease
Swollen gums and loose teeth are also a possible sign of poor heart health. When the gums and teeth are in disrepair it’s usually from an overabundance of bacteria, which can travel through the bloodstream into the heart resulting in significant health risks. Excess bacteria in the bloodstream can end up getting lodged in your arteries and build up plaque and cause infection to spread.
3. Nighttime Reflux
The enamel on your teeth can give your dentist a heads-up on potential issues with your esophagus from gastroesophageal reflux. When you experience reflux while you sleep, the enamel on the inside of your teeth can begin to wear away. This could be the first sign of an issue and if it goes unchecked it could result in esophageal cancer or the erosion of your esophagus.
4. Bruxism
Many people grind their teeth at night and don’t even realize it until there’s a problem and they’re experiencing headaches, pain in their jaw and fractured teeth. But your dentist can tell you if there is an emerging issue with bruxism based on excessive wear and tear on your teeth. If you experience this problem, your dentist can fit you with a custom mouth guard to protect your teeth and realign the jaw if necessary.
5. Dry Mouth
Dry mouth can cause bad breath and even damage your teeth and gums. It comes when your mouth is not producing the right amount of saliva necessary to remove bacteria from the teeth and gums. Dry mouth is also a sign of other possible medical problems like diabetes or Parkinson’s Disease.
