When going from dentist obviously it is done for check the state of your teeth, gums and your oral cavity in generalignoring that in actually observing this area it is possible to identify other health problemsapparently disconnected from it.
Although a dentist cannot officially diagnose any disorder outside his area of expertise, it is not uncommon for him to be able to see the first signs of some health problems and refer to a doctor who can clarify. Some are due to poor oral hygiene but not all.
These i problems that can be discovered on the dentist’s bed:
Heart disease
Heart problems can be assumed by some critical issues involving the teeth.
periodontal disease or periodontitisfor example, is an infection and inflammation of the gums and bones surrounding the teeth and when present could indicate the existence of heart disease.
Also the accumulation of plaque on the teeth and at the gumline can suggest clogged arteries and therefore cardiovascular problems.
However, in some cases, the causal relationship is reversed. Plaque buildup can lead to chronic inflammation, which in the long run could lead to heart disease such as endocarditis (an infection of the lining of the heart chambers or valves), clogged arteries and strokes.
Diabetes
Sometimes dentists are the first to detect signs of diabetes in people who have not been diagnosed with this metabolic disease. THE symptoms that may emerge during dental checkupsi are in fact quite evident. It’s about chronic bad breath, thrush (a fungal infection), dry mouth and gum disease.
All of these oral conditions are more common in people with diabetes because The condition reduces the body’s resistance to infections, increasing the risk of gum problems such as periodontal disease.
Again cause and effect can be reversed because usually people who keep their diabetes under control tend to have a healthier oral cavity but those who take care of their teeth also experience better blood sugar control.
To prevent oral side effects that can result from diabetes, be sure to floss and use a mouthwash twice a day.
Gastroesophageal reflux
While the telltale symptom of gastroesophageal reflux is often habitual heartburn, sometimes dentists can see other clues to this condition from the state of a patient’s mouth.
The acid that flows from the stomach back up into the esophagus causing reflux it can cause wear and tear on tooth enamel in the molar region. Also, your dentist might also notice injuries to the walls of the throat, again due to the acid.
Along with heartburn, erosion of tooth enamel, and throat irritation, other GERD symptoms to look out for are regurgitation of acidic food or liquid, upper abdominal or chest pain, trouble swallowing, feeling lump in the throat, constant cough, inflammation of the vocal cords, unexpected or worsening asthma.
To reduce the damage of reflux and prevent further erosion of tooth enamel, the better try to limit the consumption of acidic drinks such as sodas, use a toothpaste with fluoride and consume less sugar.
Bulimia
Eating disorders can have serious effects on the entire body, including the oral cavity. One of the best known ailments of this category is the bulimiawhich can also reveal itself during a visit to the dentist.
The number one clue to its presence is theerosion or yellowing of the teeth, due to the vomiting that bulimic people tend to frequently get after eating. This phenomenon, in fact, exactly as with reflux, causes the stomach acids to rise up to the oral cavity as they can corrode the teeth and destroy the enamel causing them to change colour, shape or length or making them brittle and weak.
Also the state of the gums is an indicator of an eating disorder because they can become red, swollen, and bleed easily due to nutritional deficiencies in calcium, iron, and B vitamins.
Another common symptom is the dry mouthdue to the fact that eating disorders lead the salivary glands to swell and stop working properly.
Eventually they can occur redness, scrapes and cuts inside the mouthagain due to vomiting.
Oral cavity cancer
In its early stages, oral cavity cancer may be painless and have few obvious symptoms. This is why most people realize they have it when it is already in an advanced stage.
However, they exist signs that can be seen by the dentist such as white or red spots in the mouth, small hardened sores, a painless lump or mass inside the mouth or neck area, pain or difficulty swallowing, speaking or chewing, wart-like masses in the mouth, hoarseness, numbness in the oral/facial region, unilateral persistent earache and enlarged lymph nodes.
Source: www.my-personaltrainer.it
