What your mouth says about your overall health

For most people, a dental checkup is a must to clean and check for cavities or other problems with their teeth. However, when a good dentist takes a look at your mouth, he or she can tell a lot about your health. Problems with your teeth and gums sometimes mean a lot more than just dental issues. In addition to checking the appearance of your teeth, dentists today are increasingly on the lookout for specific smells and spots on the gums. According to The Washington Post, dentists can identify a number of clues connected to health issues unrelated to problems in your mouth. Among them:

• Heart disease. Your dentist might decide to check your blood pressure if your gums appear a bright red or purple.


• Type 2 diabetes. When the patient has no plaque but gums bleed with just a little pressure, this could be a sign that he or she is diabetic.


• Kidney disease. Dentists can detect a sweet ammonia smell on the patient's breath, even from behind a surgical mask.


• Acid reflux. Some but not all teeth look worn and pitted. Which teeth are affected depends on where acid in the mouth settles as the patient normally sleeps.


• Oral cancer. White spots on the gums can indicate biting into a food that's too hot. However, if the spots persist after at least two weeks, they could be signs of a malignancy.


• Leukemia. Patients with this type of cancer often have fiery-red gums that are swollen and that won't heal. However, only a blood test can distinguish the condition from diabetes.


• Bulimia. The patient's upper front teeth are very thin because the enamel has worn away. The teeth might actually hurt. The American Dental Association (ADA) reports that the teeth can become translucent, and the patient might have bad breath.


• Osteoporosis. Dentists note particular black spots on X-rays of your teeth. These spots are indicators of air pockets and areas of dead bone.


• Stress. Your gums can be a giveaway to a stressful life. Perhaps they have pulled away from your teeth. The teeth might actually be fractured from grinding. If so, they're the gateway to a number of fungal, bacterial and viral infections that thrive in the body after entering through one or more cracked teeth.


• Sleep apnea. Many patients with this condition have an enlarged tongue. The gums located where air passes are often inflamed.


• Pregnancy. A good dentist can spot deeply swollen gums, which are sometimes signs of hormonal changes in the body.

The Post suggests that a thorough dental exam should mean the dentist spends more than 5 to 10 seconds taking a look at your mouth. It should take at least five minutes. What happens when your mouth suggests you have a major health problem elsewhere in the body? Some dentists ask you to return in a few weeks for a recheck. Others refer you right away to a physician.