"Signs include chips and cracking of the teeth, plus wear and tear on the teeth from the constant . One potential link is that inflammation in the mouth increases inflammation in other parts of the body, including the arteries. Since then I've developed a fondness for writing, which is how this all got started! During an oral cancer screening exam, your dentist looks over the inside of your mouth to check for red or white patches or mouth sores. Whatever you eat and make a part of you has to go through the oral cavity first. A routine dental exam may reveal unknown problems with your bones, heart, blood sugar, or digestion because certain warning signs live inside your mouth. This one is super interesting because some patients come in with face numbness! Cavities and plaque build up are two things that they look for but they can know much more than that from just looking into your mouth. A healthy mouth means a lot more than not having cavities. When diabetes is under control, periodontal disease is also more easily controlled. Koray M, Tosun T. Oral mucosal trauma and injuries. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. I drink too much soda or sports drinks. Yes, the teeth grinding will damage your teeth so you should schedule a consultation to have a night guard made so that it can protect your teeth. This article has been viewed 97,128 times. ", American Academy of Periodontology: "Gum Disease and Pregnancy Problems. Usually you would require those 3 things for you to have gum inflammation, which we can diagnose you as plaque induced gingivitis but in this case, we are unsure. ", 5. Child protective services, law enforcement agencies, or both will use the report as part of the case's investigation. Not a cavity filling nor even a root canal. It is actually their body that is overreacting to the plaque and tartar build up on the teeth. The enamel on the tongue side would be all eroded from the acid that is constantly coming up. Avoiding or limiting alcohol, caffeine, and tobacco products. While there are many symptoms a woman might exhibit if she's expecting, apparently, there's also a telltale sign in her mouth that a dentist can easily spot. This is due to the fact that mouth cancer affects the drainage of the lymph nodes. In some cases, we will not prescribe medications or perform certain treatments without the physicians consent. The most noticeable attribute would be an open bite. Your front teeth on the upper may not be touching the lower teeth. The difference this time is that the eroded enamel is on the cheek side or the facial side as we call it. In some cases, they'll work closely with your primary care doctor to help manage your follow-up care. "Spending 5 minutes a day to remove plaque and bacteria by brushing and flossing is worth it if it will help prevent serious heart problems or stroke.". Wow, dentists can diagnosis autoimmune diseases?! We factor medication use into our treatment planning. 12 Things Your Dentist Knows About You Just By Looking In Your Mouth 3. Oral and cutaneous manifestations of viral and bacterial infections: Not only COVID-19 disease. 2021;34(6):1141-1156. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2021.06.210217. ", American Academy of Periodontology: "Gum Disease and Diabetes. A dentist or a dental hygienist can take a quick look inside your mouth and tell you whether you clench and grind your teeth in your sleep. Some dentists use special tests in addition to the oral exam to screen for oral cancer. What Can a Dentist Tell by Looking at Your Mouth, Teeth, and Gums Commonly you can find mouth sores. Lack of saliva can be due to gland issues, medication, lack of hydration or other external factors. Here are some of the most common and important connections between your dental healthand overall health. "A dry mouth . Likewise, people who have severe periodontal disease find it harder to control blood sugar levels., Aniruddh Narvekar, BDS Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with one out of every four deaths occurring because of it. Most people consider teeth and gums as separate from other aspects of personal health, yet they are more connected to serious health conditions that you might realize. Special tests may involve: If your dentist discovers any signs of mouth cancer or precancerous lesions, he or she may recommend: Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. How Can Dentists Tell You Smoke Weed? - Marijuana Dispensary Acute dental infections can be truly life threatening if left un-treated, and the risk becomes even worse when there are other chronic conditions present, such as diabetes, says William G. Flick DDS, MPH, Clinical Professor, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery at UIC. After all, the mouth is the window to the rest of the body. Our LIC dentists diagnose sinus infections all that time. Two things that might explain the appearance of the condition are oral sex and the presence of illness. Research shows that people who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels, and that regular periodontal care can improve diabetes control. Kenneth Wong, DDS, of Santa Monica adds, "When patients floss right before coming for a cleaning, I can see the slices where the floss cut at the gum because they were overzealous. Here's more of what you need to know about palatal petechiae. Researchers have yet to determine, for example, the best treatment to use and whether the treatment should ideally begin before women with gum disease get pregnant. Energy drinks, which tend to be even more acidic than soft drinks, may cause even more damage to tooth enamel,he says. See you dentist for a check-up every six months. "When I see a patient with symptoms like frequent gum abscesses, swelling, a lot of bone loss in a short amount of time, and gum disease that doesn't respond to normal treatment, those can be signs that they have diabetes," says Sally Cram, DDS, a periodontist in Washington, D.C., and spokeswoman for the American Dental Association. I graduated from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine in 2016 but prior to going to dental school I was already working in the dental field. Some studies have also shown that bacteria in the mouth that are involved in the development of periodontal disease can move into the bloodstream and cause an elevation in C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation in the blood vessels. Can you tell me about your dental nurses/assistants? Oral cancer screening is an examination performed by a dentist or doctor to look for signs of cancer or precancerous conditions in your mouth. Your teeth may be worn down or chipped if you've been unconsciously grinding or clenching them. This is why it is important to get a dental check up with your dentist every 6 months. ", MORE:5 Things Your Blood Type Says About Your Health. Edmund Khoo, DDS, is an orthodontist and clinical associate professor at the New York University College of Dentistry. Wisdom Teeth Removal: What to Expect, Recovery, and More - Verywell Health "The gums of people who only floss right before a visit are bleeding or look damaged," says Timothy Stirneman, DDS, of All Smiles Dental in Algonquin, IL, "whereas, healthy gums are nice and tight and pink," he says. As with all types of cancer, early detection is key in successful treatment. This affects your gums as well as your tongue. It mostly affects the softest top part of your mouth. Visually examine the skin for any abnormal growths or moles. As an intern then a psychometrist and counseling trainee for a behavioral health department, Rven collaborated with pain clinic medical staff to assist in the care of patients dealing with pain. Since your toothbrush can't reach all your tooth and gum surfaces, remember to floss (also known as interdental cleaning) once a day, too. You may think your dentist doesn't know, but they can tell when you drink a lot of soda or sports drinks. During the dental exam, we will also look for signs of oral cancer in the mouth and throat areas. Our Blog - Julie M. Gillis, DDS PC on Instagram: "Men carry bacteria - If his genitals Without looking at your hands, a dentist may be able to detect this habit. In addition, alcoholics have 'chipmunk red cheeks,' and the smell alone is usually a giveaway. Pull out your lower lip using your thumb and index finger and check for any lumps or irregular growths. IntechOpen; 2019. Sometimes it can even get to the point where they develop a pregnancy tumor. While you can't safely remove tartar at home, with an excellent oral hygiene routine, plaque removal can be done by following these steps: Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Patient evaluation and assessment. And it's not just diseasesdentists can discover everything from your bad habits to your favorite beverages simply by asking you to say, "Ahh! We typically do this as a process of elimination because most patients will come in complaining about tooth pain. What Is Dry Mouth? | Delta Dental Drago F, Ciccarese G, Merlo G, et al. Vergnes, J. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, February 2007. Oral cancer screening doesn't require any special preparation. You have a sinus infection. How Can a Dentist Tell if You Vape? Will Hiding It Help Your Health? Trauma in Dentistry. A frequent vaper will also have a dry mouth, which is another telltale signhiding that you vape from your dentist will not help your oral health. "The mouth is the window to the body," says David Silverstrom, DDS, of The Silverstrom Group in Livingston, NJ. The best thing to do is to go in person to see your dentist for an examination and consultation so that you can receive the best care possible. Your dentist likes to see you every six months. After that, he should recommend that the patient see an ENT to rule out sinus issues, and a GI doc to rule out reflux issues.". 99 views, 1 likes, 1 loves, 4 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from The Salvation Army of Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson Counties: Holiness Meeting April 30,2023 Oral Cancer. However, one condition you may be less familiar with is palatal petechiae, which can appear on the soft palate. Tooth Extraction: Cost, Procedure, Risks, and Recovery - Healthline Without treatment, the infection can spread to the gum's crevices (at the gumline and below it), causing more inflammation and swelling, which is why your gums may bleed when you brush your teeth. A good dentist will always tell you if you have periodontal disease and the best way to manage this disease. Your dentist can tell if you're pregnant just by doing an examination, one expert has suggested Credit: Getty . That's because they may have a decreased ability to fight bacterial infections, including those that occur in the mouth. Hello, I'm Dr Chen and I'm an actively practicing dentist in Long Island City, NY. If you don't get enough vitamin C, you can get scurvy. A lack of saliva can cause oral health problems like cavities, gum disease, and oral infections. This means that if you have any type of oral surgery procedure like a tooth removal, the time it would take for your gums and your bone to heal would be slower than normal. What can a dentist tell from your mouth? Because cavities come in a number of different colors from yellow to black, these should be easy to spot just from looking at pictures of your teeth. ", Mayo Clinic: "Diabetes and dental care: Guide to a healthy mouth.". In the process you will snore. We can also share recommendations for good nutrition and oral hygiene, and provide counseling on special oral health care needs, such as tobacco cessation. That is why we take a comprehensive approach at UIC. They will oftentimes look at your arms and your hands during the appointment. All of our new patient dental exams include an oral cancer evaluation. Brushing and flossing more frequently would definitely help counteract all of those extra meals that they're probably having! Tooth decay (cavities) are an infectious disease. They will experience a lot more bleeding gums and swollen gums. All rights reserved. No single oral exam or oral cancer screening test is proved to reduce the risk of dying of oral cancer. Since tooth decay and periodontitis are forms of infectious disease, it is possible that blood can transport bacteria related to these conditions from the mouth to the heart and other parts of the body. Some of these things you may be aware of but others you may not have been. A dentist or a dental hygienist can take a quick look inside your mouth and tell you whether you clench and grind your teeth in your sleep. Nearly 50,000 Americans will be diagnosed with head & neck cancer this year, causing nearly 10,000 deaths, making it the sixth most common cancer in the world. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. During your routine dental check-up, your dentist can uncover important clues about your overall health. Your dentist should be able to show you exactly where there has been bone loss in your mouth. We make sure our patients understand that they must also work to get blood sugar under control in order for their body to properly fend off the infections leading to periodontal disease. A routine dental exam may reveal unknown problems with your bones, heart, blood sugar, or digestion because certain warning signs live inside your mouth. It's been more than a decade since I first got to know dentistry and let me tell you, time flies by quickly. Timothy Chase, DMD, of SmilesNY in New York City, adds, "The first thing the dentist should do is rule out the odor coming from the teeth and gums. Early detection is key to increasing the survival rate for these cancers. Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth. Hint: That is the reason why you can't eliminate seeing dentists in your life! This could cause your face to feel like it is going numb. Dental implant surgery can offer a welcome alternative to dentures or bridgework that doesn't fit well and can offer an option when a lack . You also don't seem to have very much calculus build up. (Still, that shouldn't stop you from attending routine dental appointments.). Here's How We Know You Clench & Grind Your Teeth | Edmond Dentist 16 Things Your Dentist Can Tell From Just Looking At Your Mouth The condition of your teeth and gums might have an effect on your heart. You've heard of oral cancer right? For tips on how to prevent mouth cancer from occurring, keep reading! Bruxism (teeth grinding) - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic The more tooth fillings you need, the more sweets you've probably consuming. Press gently along the sides of your neck for any pain, tenderness or lumps. Commonly you can find, Your dentist can get a lot of information about you, just from simply looking in your mouth. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. The purpose of all of this oral health information is to encourage you to see your dentist and to inform you of what you may expect during your visit. What Your Dentist Knows About Your Health - WebMD Bruxism is usually caused by stress but can also occur because the top and bottom teeth aren't aligned properly. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factors that can increase the risk of oral cancer include: The number of people diagnosed with mouth and throat cancers has been rising over the last several years, though it isn't clear why. ", Mayo Clinic: "What is the best way to screen for oral cancer? It can be difficult to get a good view of the inside of your mouth in a wall mirror, so try using a small hand-held mirror to perform the self-examination preferably one that fits inside your mouth. 12 Things Your Dentist Knows About You Just By Looking In Your Mouth, 6 Mistakes You Make Every Time You Brush Your Teeth, 9 Things Your Hands Say About Your Health, 5 Surprising Ways You're Seriously Hurting Your Teeth, 5 Things Your Blood Type Says About Your Health, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. When youre dehydrated, you lack saliva and your teeth are more vulnerable to acid attacks. 12 Things Your Dentist Knows About You Just By Looking in Your Mouth Your Dentist Can Tell If You Are Pregnant Just By Looking In Your Mouth Offenbacher, S. Obstetrics and Gynecology, September 2010. This form of gum disease is similar to gingivitis but it just occurs during pregnancy. We refer to this as the tongue side or lingual side of your teeth. Smoking: Smoking is one of the most significant risk factors associated with the development of periodontal disease. Some dentists promise that their office procedures will make your teeth four shades whiter. Donald S. Clem, DDS, periodontist; president, American Academy of Periodontology. Signs and symptoms of bruxism may include: Teeth grinding or clenching, which may be loud enough to wake up your sleep partner. Mon: 9:00am - 6:00pm But if you leave your mouth open for an hour, you could easily be two shades whiter just from dehydration. Emergency dental care. Just to make sure you don't have unexplainable scars! Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Mayo Clinic on High Blood Pressure - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press, Financial Assistance Documents Minnesota, Sign up for Email: Get Your Free Resource Coping with Cancer, Tobacco use of any kind, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff, among others, History of significant sun exposure, which increases the risk of lip cancer. Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Their face is just numb and they have no explanation. Regular dental exams are important for detection and prevention of oral diseases. Child abuse and neglect refer to the mistreatment of children and adolescents younger than 18 years old by people who have children in their care (e.g., parents, caregivers, coaches, or teachers). doi:10.1542/peds.2017-1487. More research is needed to determine the best way to manage gum problems to lower the risk of preterm delivery. Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic Press. Do you get canker sores a lot all around your mouth? If your tooth enamel is worn down, for example, that's a sign that you may be suffering from stress and grinding your teeth at night. Some common oral health concerns include canker sores, dry mouth, or cavities. Disease of the Kidneys Osteoporosis. 2. And it is more common than you might think. Oral cancer screening is typically performed during a routine dental appointment. Because saliva washes away food and neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth. You've a metabolic disease like diabetes. Blood flows to and from our mouth and the rest of the body. Typical presentation is on the side of the tongue but it can occur anywhere in the mouth. Acids do the most damage when you are very thirsty or have a dry mouth. If you notice any of these symptoms, this doesn't necessarily mean you have mouth cancer.