FROM ULCERS TO A CANCER, WHAT YOUR MOUTH REVEALS ABOUT YOU BLOG #57
BLOG #57 FROM ULCERS TO A CANCER, WHAT YOUR MOUTH REVEALS ABOUT YOU
Dr. Spiker Davis D.D.S. 713-781-2800 Dr. Matt Guerre D.D.S. 713-781-2800
In collaboration with Dr. John Seger M.D. Cardiologist 713-791-9444
BLOG | ABOUT | MISSION | PALEO | RANT | PRODUCT
I believe the mouth is the WINDOW TO YOUR HEALTH and I also believe that if people would just look into their mouth there is a big story to be told. As a dentist, I have been looking into a lot of mouths on a daily basis and it is amazing what you see and what the connection to your overall health might be. Lots of health problems can be identified just by the dentist looking at your throat, tongue, cheeks, roof of the mouth, and teeth. So, what should you and your dentist be looking for?
CAVITIES-the number one disease in the world is tooth decay. Obviously, dentists are always looking for decay. However, if there is a lot of decay it tells the dentist to look for a cause. It can be from eating too much sugar or it could be from the medicines you are taking for other health issues. Oral hygiene is always suspect for a cause of decay. It basically never happens without a cause. The number one cause is too much Sugar!
BLEEDING GUMS-gums should be firm, pink in color (not RED), and should not bleed when you brush or floss. There are many reasons that gums can bleed including gum or bone infections, hormone changes, certain medications, vitamin deficiencies, and poor diet. Gum disease has been linked to many other health conditions such as heart disease, strokes, diabetes, cancer, and dementia. In most cases, if it is detected early, it can be treated and that is why it is so important to see your dentist on a regular basis. Make sure to brush and floss.
RECEDING GUMS-if it appears that the gums are shrinking away from the teeth it is very possible that you have gum disease in some form. Also, receding gums can be caused by clenching your teeth. Do not ignore receding gums and check with your dentist as soon as you notice it. The more the gums recede the greater the chance that you are going to lose some teeth.
ULCERS-many of us has had ulcers on occasion. In general, they are caused by a virus and they go away usually within a week or so. Ulcers can also be a sign of hormonal changes, stress (we have seen a lot of them lately from the Covid-19 stress), and vitamin deficiencies. Vitamin C seems to help them go away if you start taking it the minute you think you feel an ulcer coming. There are medications for the treatment of ulcers so contact your dentist if this is a regular problem for you. Try to eat healthily and lower your stress level.
WHITE LAYER ON YOUR TONGUE-Your tongue should be a pink, red color similar to healthy gums. If your tongue appears to have a white layer or patches it could be several underlying health conditions. It could be a precancerous condition, it could be from smoking and it could be an infection. When you brush your teeth, it is important to also brush your tongue as bacteria and food debris tend to hide in the grooves of your tongue. If you notice this, please contact your dentist.
SWELLING OR PIMPLE ON YOUR GUMS-A swelling of any kind is not a normal condition in your mouth. Swelling can be an indication of an infection, abscess, gum disease, bone growth, or cancer. When you notice swelling, you should see your dentist immediately.
DRY MOUTH-In our office we see this condition frequently. There are many causes of a dry mouth such as
smoking, medications, alcohol, sleep apnea, and mouth breathing. The biggest problem we face from a dry mouth is that it usually causes gum infections and severe decay. If you have chronic dry mouth, contact your dentist asap.
BAD BREATH-There is lots of reasons for bad breath ranging from diabetes to garlic. We all have bouts of bad breath from something we ate or some type of sinus infection etc. Diabetes is the one we worry about the most since it can be life-threatening if it is not controlled. Check with your dentist and your physician if you have something out of the ordinary or bad breath that lingers on for more than a day or two. Floss, brush, and rinse with mouthwash will usually get rid of the simple causes.
GERD-Gerd stands for Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease. Basically, it means that stomach acid is coming up from your stomach into your esophagus or mouth giving you heartburn, chest pain, and trouble swallowing. This can lead to a certain type of throat cancer, so it is important to catch this problem early. Most of our patients do not even know that they have GERD, but as dentists, we can often notice the acid erosion on your teeth from the acid coming into your mouth and eroding the enamel.
CANCER-Most dentists check for signs of head and neck cancers and also mouth and throat cancer. In our
office, we have special screening light that we use to also check for abnormal tissue. You don’t want to get cancer of any kind but get your regular cancer screening from your dentist at your regular dental checkup. Tobacco use is the number one cause all of head and neck cancer. Quit smoking.
OSTEOPOROSIS-Osteoporosis is the steady thinning of your bones. Loose teeth without gum disease can be one sign of bone thinning and dental x-rays can be used to screen for this condition.
HIV-People with HIV or AIDS are prone to multiple mouth problems. One of the most common is oral thrush which is a yeast infection that looks like cottage cheese on your tongue. Other oral symptoms include recurrent cold sores, gum disease, and warts. Also, HIV people can develop Kaposi sarcoma in the later stages of HIV.
SJOGREN’S SYNDROME-We currently has 4 patients in our practice with this autoimmune condition. In this case, the immune system targets moisture-producing glands in the mouth and the tear ducts of the eyes. It usually creates a very dry mouth and even makes it difficult to swallow. Also, decay is usually rampant.
SUMMARY-It is obvious that your mouth is the window to your health. Abnormal conditions can be very
indicative of other systemic health conditions. In many cases, if your mouth is unhealthy there is a good
probability that something somewhere else in your body also needs attention. Start the year off right- Go see your dentist and get back on track with regular cleanings. Follow that up by seeing your physician for a physical.
RANT AND RAVE– I don’t know about you, but I am sick and tired of this virus. I don’t know what to do or what not to do and it seems like no matter what, we are all going to get it??? Maybe not? I pray this thing will go away pretty soon and by summer we are mostly normal.
“THE MOUTH IS THE WINDOW TO YOUR HEALTH”. BRUSH AND FLOSS TWICE DAILY, AVOID SUGAR FOR 2022 AND SEE YOUR DENTIST AND PHYSICIAN ON A REGULAR BASIS.