DENTO-MEDICAL
While the eyes may be the window to the soul, your mouth is a window to your body's health. The state of your oral health can offer lots of clues about your overall health. Oral health and overall health are more connected than you might realize.
Sometimes the first sign of a disease shows up in your mouth. In other cases, infections in your mouth can be a sign of problems in other areas of your body.
DIABETES MELLITUS (Suga’ or Sugar) There are many oral manifestations of diabetes mellitus. Generally, the symptoms are more severe, and seem to progress faster in those who have poorly controlled diabetes, than in those who are well-controlled.
About a third of patients complain of dry mouth, which may be due to an overall decreased flow of saliva and an increased salivary glucose level.
Altered taste and burning mouths have also been reported in association with poorly controlled diabetes. Dry mouth may act as a predisposing factor in the development of oral infections. Dry and damaged gums are more susceptible to infections.
ANEMIA (low blood) The potential causes for Anemia are many. Tiredness and low resistance to infection are common symptoms. The nail beds and gums look pale.
Swollen red tongues, gum boils, yeast infections, and deep cracks at the corner of the mouth, may be more common in patients with anemia. A swollen tongue may be the first sign of folate or vitamin B-12 deficiency. The tongue appears reddened, and the taste buds are small, producing a smooth (“bald”) appearance. Cracks at the corner of the mouth are commonly caused by a yeast infection, and it has been linked to iron deficiency. If the anemia persists, resistance to infection may go down.
REFLUX Regurgitation of stomach contents (pH 1-2) reduces the pH of the mouth below 5.5; this acidic pH begins to dissolve enamel. It is most commonly seen on the inside surfaces of teeth. Erosion of the enamel exposes the underlying dentin, which is a softer material. The extent of erosion depends on the frequency of exposure along with the duration of disease.
CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE (bad liva’) Chronic liver disease impacts many systems of the body. The clotting pathway is one such system. The liver makes many of the clotting factors necessary to stop bleeding. In patients with liver disease, the resultant problems can present as bruising or excessive gum bleeding with minor trauma. A common manifestation of advanced liver disease visible in the mouth is jaundice, which is a yellow pigmentation.
HIV Common or notable HIV-related mouth conditions include dry mouth, yeast infection, oral hairy leukoplakia and gum diseases such as necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis.
Kaposi’s sarcoma, human papilloma virus-associated warts, and ulcerative conditions including herpes simplex virus lesions, recurrent boils, are also familiar findings.
Early detection of HIV-associated oral disease, in many cases, result in earlier diagnosis of HIV infection. Coordination of health care services between physician and dentist, should improve overall health and comfort of the patient.
If you did not already have enough reasons to take good care of your mouth, teeth and gums, the relationship between your oral health and your overall health provides even more. Resolve to practice good oral hygiene every day. You're making an investment in your overall health, not just for now, but for the future, too.
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not intended and may not be treated as, a substitute for professional medical/dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or dental professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical/dental condition. Never disregard professional medical/dental advice or delay in seeking it because of a purely informational publication.
Copyright © 2012 by Dr. Andre R. Clarke. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this article, in whole or in part, is prohibited without written permission. If you have questions, please send email to dr_andreclarke@hotmail.com.
Dr. André R. Clarke, DDS, MBBS Special Care Dentistry
