Open wide! Your mouth can reveal a lot about your health — from heart problems to bone disease to dementia.
Ouch — no one likes to get bad news in the dentist’s chair. But good dental health is a reflection of good health overall — and how well you take care of your teeth may reflect how well you take care of the rest of your body. That’s why your dentist can tell you a lot more about your health than simply the state of your mouth. A routine dental exam may reveal problems with your bones, heart, or digestion because certain warning signs live inside your mouth.
And not only can routine dental check-ups reveal certain health problems, they may also prevent them. In fact, a new study presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association found that people who received regular teeth cleanings and scrapings had a 24 percent lower risk of heart attack and 13 percent lower risk of stroke compared to people who didn’t get such dental care.
1. DEMENTIA
Poor oral hygiene may even be a risk factor for dementia, according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society. Scientists at the University of California followed more than 5,000 elderly people over 18 years and found that those who brushed their teeth less than once a day were up to 65 percent more likely to develop dementia than those who brushed daily. The researchers speculate that this is because gum disease bacteria might get into the brain and cause inflammation.
2. HEART PROBLEMS
Research has found a surprising number of links between the state of your dental health and your heart. Inflamed gums and loose teeth can be warnings of heart disease. If you have a gum disease like periodontitis, the bacteria in your gums could travel to your heart and contribute to coronary artery disease. Bacteria may also increase your risk for heart disease by contributing to the formation of clots or further plaque build-up in your arteries that can interfere with blood flow to the heart.
3. DIABETES
The most common dental health condition for diabetics? Gum disease. "Gum disease, bleeding gums, and loose teeth are all warning signs of diabetes," Dr. Koslow says. "Diabetics also tend to have a slower healing time." Infections at your gum line can worsen the state of your diabetes and can contribute to the risk for heart disease and stroke, so it’s important to take steps to keep your mouth healthy (and your diabetes under control).
4. OSTEOPOROSIS
"Osteoporosis does not cause changes in the teeth, but it does cause changes in the bone that supports the teeth," Koslow explains. "This may show up as a receding gum line and loose teeth."
5. EATING DISORDERS
Eating disorders can cause poor nutrition, which can lead to oral conditions like bleeding gums and dry mouth. In addition, "erosion on the insides of the front teeth may be a sign of forced vomiting in a young person with bulimia — stomach acid wears away at enamel and also makes teeth more sensitive," says Koslow.
6. NIGHTTIME REFLUX
"Erosion of enamel from the insides of teeth, especially the upper back molars, is a clue to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)," Koslow says. Reflux of stomach juices can happen at night --- but you may not be aware of it until your dentist sees its effects on your dental health.
7. DRY MOUTH
Saliva helps to wash away bacteria and debris that lead to cavities and gum disease. if you’re producing too little saliva, your dentist will know. Dry mouth may be caused by medications or it may be a sign of a disease such as diabetes or Parkinson's disease. The solution? Up your fluid intake, and your dentist may even suggest a saliva substitute.
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