Diabetes
People who are suffering from Diabetes type 1 and type 2 do not have the ability to fight infections caused by bacteria and can develop gum diseases. Diabetes patients with serious gum diseases then face difficulties in controlling their blood sugar levels.
If your dentist suspects that you have diabetes, he may advise you to visit the doctor for tests to confirmation the diagnosis and further treatment.
He will also advise you to book more frequent dental check-ups if you have diabetes, to ensure ongoing treatment of gum diseases.
Oral Cancer
A white spot or sore area in the mouth is an early sign of oral cancer. It can appear on your lips, gums, tongue, cheek lining, or in other parts of your mouth. These spots cannot be easily detected by the patients since they either appear at the back of the mouth or under the tongue and do not generally come with any other symptoms.
Always tell your dentist if you have a sore spot in your mouth, or any pain which is not improving.
Routine dental examinations include screening for oral cancer as well. If you go for regular dental check-ups, you will be able to detect any cancerous or precancerous lesions early. Smokers or those who consume alcohol should also have regular dental check-ups, as they are at a higher risk for developing oral cancer.
Stress
Unintentionally grinding (bruxism) or clenching of the teeth makes them wear down. Bruxism is detected by the dentist via X-rays. It is usually caused by stress when the top and bottom teeth are not aligned. This misalignment of teeth occurs when one has a sleep disorder or is anxious, due to stress.
The dentist can provide you with a mouth guard to wear while you sleep to help treat bruxism. This will help relax your jaw muscles and prevent further damage to your teeth.
Premature and Low-Weight Births
Pregnant women who suffer from serious gum disease often also have a premature delivery of thier baby. The baby’s health is also affected and he or she can be born at a low weight.
Women who are planning to get pregnant or who are already expecting should have regular dental exams to check if they need treatment
Heart Disease
Any kind of gum disease increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes. You should tellto your dentist if you have cardiovascular disease or a family history of these conditions.
There are multiple reasons for heart attacks, but researchers have found one potential link with mouth inflammation and the increased inflammation of other parts of the body, including the arteries.
Therefore, treating gum disease is important in order to reduce mouth inflammation and the risk of more serious inflammation elsewhere in the body.
Cancer
Dentists can also detect swellings in the mouth that are often caused by cancer. Cheeks and tonsils can become swollen because of damage caused to the salivary glands.
Leukaemia
Other severe diseases result in symptoms manifesting themselves in the mouth, such as ulcers and swollen or bleeding gums. All these can be spotted by dentist very easily and can be clear indicators of more threatening conditions.
Osteoporosis
This condition results in a decrease in bone density all over the body. Changes to the bones that hold the teeth in the mouth can be spotted on a dental X-ray.