Top 7 Non-Dental Health Conditions That Dentists Might Discover During a Dental Checkup

Your mouth says so much about your overall body health. During the regular checkups, your dentists will also be looking for sores, bumps, lumps, areas of tenderness and swelling. A close assessment of your oral cavity can reveal more than how best you take care of your teeth. Here are some health problems that dentists can discover during regular checkups.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the weakening of bones and can happen to anyone. Some symptoms of osteoporosis that your dentist can discover include a receding gum line and loose teeth. These are signs that there are changes that are occurring in the bone that provides support to your teeth. With routine dental checkup, your dentist will be able to ascertain these warning signs so that necessary medical interventions can be started early.

Diabetes

Some initial signs of diabetes will manifest themselves in your oral cavity. Loose teeth, receding gums, and a dry mouth are all associated with diabetes. Diabetics will commonly experience gingivitis and bleeding gums. Persistent wounds and infections that heal slowly may also be a sign of diabetes. If you have several early warning signs, your dentist will encourage you to have your blood sugar levels checked.

Eating disorders

Individuals who suffer from bulimia or anorexia are good at hiding their conditions. However, a dentist can easily notice the signs of malnutrition in your oral cavity. A dry mouth and bleeding gums all point to poor nutrition. In addition, forced vomiting causes the stomach acid to corrode the enamel from the front of the teeth. This corrosion can also cause increased teeth sensitivity.

Oral cancer

Oral cancer is one of the sixth most common kinds of cancers diagnosed in the USA. Early discovery of this cancer is important with regards to successful treatment. This is why it is recommended that you visit your dentist at least twice every year. During your routine checkups, your dentist can easily discover symptoms of this disease, for example, red or white patches and discolorations in the back of the throat.

Stress

The jaw and teeth tend to suffer immensely because of your stress levels. Most people tend to grind their teeth in their sleep without noticing it. Bruxism or grinding of teeth is one of the major manifestations of stress. Since bruxism can damage your teeth, your dentist can easily notice the level of damage. When you are aware of the seriousness of your stress levels, you can take the necessary steps to take care of your mental health.

Anemia

Anemia is a medical condition where the body lacks enough red blood cells in circulation. One symptom of anemia is a paleness on the lining of the mouth. Another sign is the tongue becoming smooth and starts losing its bumpy texture.

HIV

Some oral conditions may be an indication that someone is suffering from HIV. For example, lesions, oral warts, brown, purple, white, or red spots on the tongue are signs of infections in adults. Pediatric patients may have salivary gland swelling that results in dry mouth. Children are also prone to oral lesions and viruses such as herpes zoster, herpes simplex, oral candidiasis, and HPV. These symptoms alone do not indicate that you have HIV, but your dentist will recommend you to go for blood tests.

Regular dental checkups come with lots of benefits. Your dentist will watch for changes in your oral cavity, some of which may indicate serious medical problems. Your dental practitioner will catch these problems early and this will allow you to seek treatment early for more successful outcomes.

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Trudy is a Business Tech Analyst. He is very responsible towards his job. He loves to share his knowledge and experience with his friends and colleagues.