what can a dentist tell from your mouth

Your mouth is home to millions of bacteria most of them harmless but some cause our teeth to decay, and can spread to other parts of the body through the bloodstream. This is why it is important to get a, Author: This article was written by Dr David Chen, a. , NY. These may all be signs of sugar levels that are out of control, so dentists can alert patients to see their doctor to check for diabetes. Kyle Stanley, DDS, of Helm, Nejad, Stanley in Beverly Hills adds, "Patients that bite their nails using their front teeth usually have leveled off, flat front teeth. References. Pull out your lower lip using your thumb and index finger and check for any lumps or irregular growths. A dentist or a dental hygienist can take a quick look inside your mouth and tell you whether you clench and grind your teeth in your sleep. 1. If you're concerned about your cancer risk, talk to your doctor about ways you can reduce your risk and which screening tests might be appropriate for you. This can lead to periodontal (gum) disease and eventually loss of teeth. Mayo Clinic. It is not possible to give advice nor diagnose any oral conditions based on text nor virtual consultations. The answer is "yes.". Also, be sure to tell your dentist if you've noticed symptoms like a sore in your mouth that doesn't heal, a lump, or pain or numbness anywhere in your mouth or on your lips. Your oral health includes your teeth, gums, and other body parts involved in your oral-facial system. You may know why you chipped your tooth, but Hugh Flax, DDS, of Flax Dental in Atlanta says that even though the cause may be apparent, "there could be underlying factors that weakened the tooth and made it susceptible to being chipped in the first place." "Signs include chips and cracking of the teeth, plus wear and tear on the teeth from the constant . 2017;140(2):e20171487. People who drink also tend to have drier mouths than people who don't because it interferes with the production of the salivary glands. Bruxism is usually caused by stress but can also occur because the top and bottom teeth aren't aligned properly. The purpose of all of this oral health information is to encourage you to see your dentist and to inform you of what you may expect during your visit. While there are differences between vaping and smoking, some similarities between them can give you away to your dentist . And both sinus infections and toothaches can show symptoms of pressure. And it is more common than you might think. A healthy mouth means a lot more than not having cavities. For instance, if your regular doctor notices an irregular lump in your mouth or throat, they may refer you to one of our oral medicine / cancer specialists. Sat: 9:00am - 3:00pm In some cases, the infection can spread from the mouth to other parts of our body, and even become life threatening in severe cases. "Signs include chips and cracking of the teeth, plus wear and tear on the teeth from the constant stress on them," says Keith Arbeitman, DDS, of Arbeitman & Shein in New York City. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 97,128 times. This affects your gums as well as your tongue. Oral Implantol (Rome). Clin Dermatol. A routine dental exam may reveal unknown problems with your bones, heart, blood sugar, or digestion because certain warning signs live inside your mouth. Read our, Signs and Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), 8 Illnesses That Cause Flu-Like Symptoms That Arent the Flu, Oral and cutaneous manifestations of viral and bacterial infections: Not only COVID-19 disease, Accuracy of signs, symptoms, and hematologic parameters for the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Patient evaluation and assessment. What does a dentist do? UIC's seven health sciences colleges and health care delivery enterprise. Lack of saliva can be due to gland issues, medication, lack of hydration or other external factors. Why? You also don't seem to have very much calculus build up. This could cause your face to feel like it is going numb. A frequent vaper will also have a dry mouth, which is another telltale signhiding that you vape from your dentist will not help your oral health. Palatal petechiae is bruising on the roof of your mouth. During the dental exam, we will also look for signs of oral cancer in the mouth and throat areas. All rights reserved. 'Fruity' breath could indicate uncontrolled diabetes or a dietary fast that has gone too far, while 'fishy' breath could be a sign of kidney or liver failure," he explains. Careen Young, DDS. Your dentist can tell if you vape by looking at the stains on your teeth. Tired or tight jaw muscles, or a locked jaw that won't open . It can occur through oral sex or with the presence of an illness, but in some cases, its appearance may be a sign of abuse. Long Island City, NY 11101 They release acids that eat away at a tooth's enamel, eventually weakening it and forming cavities. Yes, the teeth grinding will damage your teeth so you should schedule a consultation to have a night guard made so that it can protect your teeth. In: Gzler S, ed. 99 views, 1 likes, 1 loves, 4 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from The Salvation Army of Nash, Edgecombe, Wilson Counties: Holiness Meeting April 30,2023 Medical organizations disagree on whether healthy people without risk factors for mouth cancer need oral cancer screening. However, that changes if the condition shows up in children, as it can be one of the signs that a child has been abused. People with a high risk of oral cancer may be more likely to benefit from oral cancer screening, though studies haven't clearly proved that. Make your tax-deductible gift and be a part of the cutting-edge research and care that's changing medicine. Your dentist can tell if you're pregnant just by doing an examination, one expert has suggested Credit: Getty . If you end up with palatal petechiae, you won't have it forever. That is why we take a comprehensive approach at UIC. Your teeth may be worn down or chipped if you've been unconsciously grinding or clenching them. Several common medications including decongestants, antihistamines, painkillers, diuretics and antidepressants can reduce saliva flow. This usually indicates that the cancer has spread and become more advanced. Now this is a classic because we can tell right away by how many cavities you have! Since tooth decay and periodontitis are forms of infectious disease, it is possible that blood can transport bacteria related to these conditions from the mouth to the heart and other parts of the body. Wisdom teeth removal surgery, also called a wisdom tooth extraction, is a dental procedure used to remove a tooth from the third set of molars , commonly called your "wisdom teeth." The surgery is typically used when the tooth becomes impacted. For example, the mouth condition has been found in some cases of COVID-19. Active Periodontal disease and gingivitis. During a routine dental examination, your dentist may alert you about the following conditions: Cardiovascular Disease. Mouth cancer can affect almost any part of your mouth, including your lips, gums, and tongue, and it can be treated if you detect it early. It is how we breathe and nourish our bodies. It's been more than a decade since I first got to know dentistry and let me tell you, time flies by quickly. Your dentist can see signs in your mouth that you've been smoking or vaping without you telling them. Wisdom teeth removal is typically performed as an outpatient procedure under mild anesthesia. Another way to tell is to bend your head over and start shaking it like a L'Oreal commercial. ", Cleveland Clinic: "Oral Health and Cardiovascular Diseases. These chemicals can induce early labor and impair fetal growth. Blood flows to and from our mouth and the rest of the body. This article has been viewed 97,128 times. Dental Exams Can Detect Signs of Disease Elsewhere in the Body. Roughly 99.99% of them require in-person intervention by a healthcare professional. By scheduling regular check-ups, you can increase the chances that any potentially cancerous or precancerous lesions will be caught early and successfully treated. HIV will have oral manifestations. Worn tooth enamel, exposing deeper layers of your tooth. Offenbacher has conducted several studies on the link between periodontitis and an increased risk of delivering a premature baby. Ho Ho Ho, bet you didn't know that did you!? For these situations, we would refer you to your primary care physician for genetic testing. "Often patients will call saying that they need a root canal," explains Ira Handschuh, DDS, of The Dental Design Center in NY, "when in fact it's actually a sinus infection and not a tooth problem at all." The spread of bacteria from mouth to mouth, is part of the reason why tooth decay (cavities) are the single most common chronic childhood disease. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 2021;34(6):1141-1156. doi:10.3122/jabfm.2021.06.210217. They will experience a lot more bleeding gums and swollen gums. Still, they can show up in different ways (e.g., as burns, bruises, or teeth and bone fractures). clicking of the jaw. Because cavities come in a number of different colors from yellow to black, these should be easy to spot just from looking at pictures of your teeth. If you experience any of these two symptoms with or without swelling/lumps, then you should visit your doctor immediately. If you don't get enough vitamin C, you can get scurvy. This one is super interesting because some patients come in with face numbness! The first sign of oral cancer is often a small red or white spot or sore in the mouth. Here are seven things that a dentist can tell from looking in your mouth. Teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped or loose. You could also use a small, hand-held torch to illuminate the inside of your mouth. Sorry, but you can't fool your dentist into thinking you floss daily by doing so the night before or morning of your visit. He explains that teeth can be softened by sodas and other sugary beverages over time, which may make a tooth more susceptible to chipping. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, with one out of every four deaths occurring because of it. Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. 3rd ed. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. This is why it is important to get a dental check up with your dentist every 6 months. Each situation in your mouth is unique and complex. Other symptoms include patches that change color on your tongue, lips, or mouth. This content does not have an Arabic version. Weds: 9:00am - 6:00pm Hint: That is the reason why you can't eliminate seeing dentists in your life! Some may experience a painful burning sensation, or all the small papillae fall off their tongue leaving it glossy and smooth. "When I see a patient with symptoms like frequent gum abscesses, swelling, a lot of bone loss in a short amount of time, and gum disease that doesn't respond to normal treatment, those can be signs that they have diabetes," says Sally Cram, DDS, a periodontist in Washington, D.C., and spokeswoman for the American Dental Association. Your front teeth on the upper may not be touching the lower teeth. He says other possibilities include acid reflux and the use of antidepressants or mood-elevating drugs, both of which reduce the amount of saliva in the mouth, thereby upping the odds of acid damage. Author: This article was written by Dr David Chen, a general dentist in long island city. The best thing to do is to go in person to see your dentist for an examination and consultation so that you can receive the best care possible. Dental implant surgery is a procedure that replaces tooth roots with metal, screwlike posts and replaces damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth that look and function much like real ones. That's why it's important to make an appointment with your doctor or dentist to get a clear diagnosis. People who are stressed out will have TMJ pain or problems. They also don't bleed easily. They won't be able to feel one side of their face as if they just had an injection with novocaine even though they didn't get any dental treatment done. We check the tissues inside and outside the mouth visually and by touch to detect signs of possible cancerous or benign legions or tumors. The nails themselves are not what cause the damage, but rather the contact that occurs between the top and bottom teeth," he says. Some studies have also shown that bacteria in the mouth that are involved in the development of periodontal disease can move into the bloodstream and cause an elevation in C-reactive protein, a marker for inflammation in the blood vessels. Clinical Assistant Professor. You don't want to have worn down looking teeth. Aside from that, there are times where we find that you may have swollen and bleeding gums that are inconsistent with the amount of plaque and tartar on your teeth. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Skin health:For some conditions such as a cancerous legion, or maybe even a skin problem, we can refer the patient to an appropriate specialist either within the UI Health system, or to a provider of their choosing. Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Experts agree, however, that women who are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant should get a dental exam and, if necessary, treatment for gum disease as early as they can. Oral health can be a contributing factor related to several common diseases and conditions. Without intervention, these conditions could get much worse over time. Autoimmune diseases:diseases such as Sjogrens syndrome can cause dry mouth, increasing the risk of cavities. With that in mind, palatal petechiae can show up for different reasons. Inspecting Your Mouth For Signs of Mouth Cancer, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f2\/Tell-if-You-Have-Mouth-Cancer-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Tell-if-You-Have-Mouth-Cancer-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f2\/Tell-if-You-Have-Mouth-Cancer-Step-1.jpg\/aid4763770-v4-728px-Tell-if-You-Have-Mouth-Cancer-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"