5 Times Your Mouth is Trying to Warn You about Your Overall Health
Do you know that your mouth can convey messages without using your vocal chords? Your oral parts – gums, teeth, and surrounding tissues – can tell a lot about your overall health.
Turns out, your organ systems and bodily processes have an effect on your mouth. After reading this article, you might want to take a closer look at your mouth to get a glimpse of your general health status. Here are warning messages you must consult with a dentist or a doctor:
- Decaying Teeth
Health Translation: GERD or Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
Surprise! Decaying teeth aren’t normal consequences of aging. What’s more, they can happen whether you’re 7 or 70.
Teeth start to crumble once the acid from the stomach starts to melt the enamel, and such acid reflux is due to GERD. It’s a chronic disease that can lead to a serious health threat, including rapture to the tunnel that connects the stomach and the esophagus.
Other Signs: Common GERD symptoms include heartburn, dry mouth, bulimia, and chipped teeth.
- Brittle or Scabbing Dentures
Health Translation: Pneumonia
Dentures (false teeth) are commonly worn among the elderly, and they have a significant contribution to a deadly disease, pneumonia. Inhaling debris around the dentures and teeth may cause dangerous (to fatal) inflammation in the lungs, leading to aspiration pneumonia – the number one cause of deaths among seniors.
Other Signs: Brittle debris or material on your dentures.
- Damaged Teeth Accompanied by Headache
Health Translation: Overwhelming Stress
Grinding of teeth (especially during sleep) is a common indicator of stress. What you perceive as a simple “habit” may have an underlying reason, like stress, and you might not notice it until you become aware of it.
Other Signs: Flat teeth as you feel them with your tongue, jaw aches as you clench your teeth, or headaches upon grinding.
- Dry Mouth
Health Translation: Diabetes
Dry mouth can be caused by a number of things, from dehydration to allergy reactions. As a matter of fact, there are lots of drugs which side effects include dry mouth too. However, if your mouth can’t produce enough saliva to keep its environment in fine fettle, it can point to autoimmune diseases, like diabetes.
Other Signs: Polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, weight loss, and change in vision.
- Recurrent Mouth Sores
Health Translation: Oral Cancer
Mouth sores may be acquired out of habit (biting the insides of the mouth) or accident, but when they seem persistent for weeks, you must schedule for an appointment with your dentist or doctor ASAP. A persistent oral sore is one of the primary indicators of oral cancer.
Other Signs: Raised oral ulcers with red and white linings, sores that don’t go away for weeks, or bleeding and numbness in the area.
Steer Clear of These Red Flags
Fortunately, proper maintenance and care of your oral health and dental accessories can keep you away from these warning signs. It’s surprising to know that our bodies work in unison and convey messages on what’s happening in our systems.
Check your mouth – Is it healthy?
The best way to know for sure is to have it checked by a dentist. If you’re looking for a Dental Care in Sterling Parkway Lincoln CA, end your search with Tooth Spa Dentistry. Visit our website www.toothspadentistry.com to know more.
Disclaimer
Blogs, content and other media uploaded online are for informational purposes only. Contents on this website should not be considered medical advice. Readers are strongly encouraged to visit their physician for health-related issues.
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