Non-dental medical

issues the dentist

might discover

Faculty of dentistry S1808

Vetrila Cătălina
Most of the time we tend to ignore aches and pains
in our mouth, putting off dentist visits unless
something visibly impacts our smile. But while it can
be easy to ignore the tenderness in our teeth, the
root of the problem may be much deeper.
Regular dental care is critical to the overall health of
our gums and teeth. What we may not know is that
our dentist can also spot signs of non-dental medical
issues in our mouth during an exam. Some of the
diseases and conditions that exhibit signs within our
mouth include diabetes, infections, oral cancer, HIV
and osteoporosis.
 Diabetes

A few of the signs that can indicate a diagnosis of diabetes

include loose teeth, dry mouth, and receding, dry, and
bleeding gums. In diabetes, blood vessels which are
responsible for delivering oxygen to various parts of the
body are thickened. This slows nutrient and waste
transport in and out of tissues. This tends to weaken gum
and bone resistance to infection, and periodontal disease
sets in. If it goes so deep as to affect the bone, tooth loss is
possible.
 Oral cancer

Early stage symptoms can include persistent red or

white patches, a non-healing ulcer, progressive
swelling or enlargement, unusual surface changes,
sudden tooth mobility without apparent cause,
unusual oral bleeding.
 Acid reflux
Erosion of enamel from the insides of teeth, especially the
upper back molars, is a clue to gastroesophageal reflux
disease - GERD. Any substance with a pH of 5.5 or lower
can dissolve our tooth enamel—and gastric acid has a 1,5
pH, easily eating away our teeth.
Reflux of stomach juices can happen at night — but we may
not be aware of it until our dentist sees its effects on our
dental health.
Reflux disease can cause erosion of the esophagus and may
even lead to esophageal cancer.
 White coated tongue
You have a yeast infection. A lumpy,
white-coated tongue could be an
oral yeast infection caused by
overproduction of candida. The
condition is often linked to
antibiotics.Your tongue is home to
naturally occurring bacteria and
yeast. When you take an antibiotic,
which selectively kills off bacteria, it
can allow yeast, to take over, which
might cause taste disturbances or a
bit of pain, can also occur in those
with weakened immune systems.
Strawberry red tongue
You have a vitamin deficiency.
A glossy, bright red tongue
may be a sign your body is
lacking iron or B12. Vitamin
B12 and iron are needed to
mature papillae on the
tongue, if you are deficient in
those vitamins, you lose
those structures, which can
make your tongue appear
very smooth.