what can a dentist tell from your mouth

• 8 September 2023

Koray M, Tosun T. Oral mucosal trauma and injuries. To prevent damage to your teeth and keep them apart so your jaw muscles can relax, your dentist can fit you with a custom mouth guard to wear while you sleep. UIC's seven health sciences colleges and health care delivery enterprise. wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Mayo Clinic: "Oral health: A window to your overall health. Dental Exams Can Detect Signs of Disease Elsewhere in the Body. 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. Why Are Pancreatic Cancer Rates Up in Young Women? Much of that can be corrected through orthodontic treatment, but some telltale signs can remain." As soon as your dentist sees blood from just touching your gums, the verdict has already been decided. If the smell is "very foul," says Arbeitman,it could be anything from gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) to an underlying lung abscess and bronchitis to a tonsil stone. Some dentists use special tests in addition to the oral exam to screen for oral cancer. The first sign of oral cancer is often a small red or white spot or sore in the mouth.It can appear on your lips, gums, tongue, cheek lining, or in other parts of your mouth. We are mandated reporters for child and domestic abuse. And serious problems in your mouth, such as gum disease, may increase your risk of other serious health problems such as heart attack, stroke, diabetes and other chronic diseases. Press gently along the sides of your neck for any pain, tenderness or lumps. "However, those who did so past the age of seven or eight may show significant changes to their bite or the position of their teeth. Mouth cancer (also known as oral cancer) can occur anywhere inside your mouth in your lips, gums, tongue, under your tongue, on the roof of your mouth, inside your cheeks and around your wisdom teeth. They will come in with dry mouth a lot as well. The enamel on the tongue side would be all eroded from the acid that is constantly coming up. 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. You may or may not be aware that you've been grinding your teeth, but your dentist can spot the signs. Some may experience a painful burning sensation, or all the small papillae fall off their tongue leaving it glossy and smooth. We often find that patients are skeptical that we can glean this information from just a brief examination, but our diagnoses is much less like palm reading or interpreting tea leaves than it may seem. Studies suggest that pregnant women with serious gum disease -- called periodontitis -- are more likely to deliver a premature baby of low birth weight. They release acids that eat away at a tooth's enamel, eventually weakening it and forming cavities. MISSING your period, swollen breasts and feeling sick are all key signs that you might be pregnant. Last but not least, if you do bite your nails you most likely have damaged enamel and chipped teeth here and there all over your mouth. Your bad breath may mean something. Many people have sores in their mouths, with the great majority of these sores being noncancerous. Look for mouth ulcers that recur in the same areas of the mouth over and over again. While the causal relationship between diabetes and periodontitis is less clear, it is still important to understand how these conditions increase risk. Oral cancer screening - Mayo Clinic They will have a toothache that is somewhere on the back upper teeth but they won't be able to pinpoint where the teeth sensitivity is coming from. Hello, I'm Dr Chen and I'm an actively practicing dentist in Long Island City, NY. You used to suck your thumb. After all, the mouth is the window to the rest of the body. IntechOpen; 2019. You may be wondering if your dentist can tell if you're vaping or smoking. 2016;8(2-3):68-73. doi:10.11138/orl/2015.8.2.068. A healthy mouth means a lot more than not having cavities. Having high blood pressure can cause excessive bleeding in the gums even during brushing, as well as during treatment. You could also use a small, hand-held torch to illuminate the inside of your mouth. Acute dental infections can be truly life threatening if left un-treated, and the risk becomes even worse when there are other chronic conditions present, such as diabetes, says William G. Flick DDS, MPH, Clinical Professor, Oral Maxillofacial Surgery at UIC. Nearly 50,000 Americans will be diagnosed with head & neck cancer this year, causing nearly 10,000 deaths, making it the sixth most common cancer in the world. What Can a Dentist Tell About Your Cardiovascular Health by Taking a Look in Your Mouth, at Your Teeth, and at Your Gums? Palatal petechiae can also be a sign of or occur with illnesses. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Well, its really quite simple, we just need to look at your tongue. You Have a Drinking Problem. 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. Alice Lee, DDS, of Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY, adds, "We can sometimes see protruding front teeth, and this can impact how kids' jaws are coming together and growing and can also impact their speech. Don't worry it is not an actual tumor. Here's what we're seeing when we look in your mouth: CMV is a virus that can affect people of any age. It can give some patients severe sores in the corners of their mouth while others have changes in their tongues. As with all types of cancer, early detection is key in successful treatment. 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. If you notice any of these symptoms, this doesn't necessarily mean you have mouth cancer. Mayo Clinic. Swollen and receding gums can be an early sign of diabetes, and sores in your mouth that don't heal can sometimes indicate oral cancer. Palatal petechiae is bruising on the roof of your mouth. If the pressure or pain increases just by doing this, the pain is most likely not tooth-related and he should see his ENT or primary care physician before coming to the dentist," he advises. What can a dentist tell from just your mouth examination The only time you flossed since your last check up was right . wikiHow is a wiki, similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. Do you get canker sores a lot all around your mouth? Commonly you can find, Your dentist can get a lot of information about you, just from simply looking in your mouth. This article has been viewed 97,128 times. Tooth decay, also known as dental caries or cavities, is a breakdown of your teeth due to acids made by bacteria. To prevent or treat dry mouth, your dental professional may recommend: Increasing water consumption to prevent dehydration, especially before bed. Journal of the American Dental Association. Screening for oral cancer: U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. If you get them frequently, you could be deficient in one of the B vitamins. One potential link is that inflammation in the mouth increases inflammation in other parts of the body, including the arteries. They also don't bleed easily. "It heals like any other bruise," explained Wolff, adding, "it could last for days to a week or so.". Not a cavity filling nor even a root canal. ", 9. Some dentists promise that their office procedures will make your teeth four shades whiter. A person with CMV may not show any symptoms. Your dentist can see signs in your mouth that you've been smoking or vaping without you telling them. Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. It can be difficult to get a good view of the inside of your mouth in a wall mirror, so try using a small hand-held mirror to perform the self-examination preferably one that fits inside your mouth. Patient evaluation and assessment. Either orthodontic treatment can either completely close the bite or at the very least improve upon what you currently have. 2021;39(3):384-404. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2021.01.021, Cai X, Ebell MH, Haines L. Accuracy of signs, symptoms, and hematologic parameters for the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. For example, the mouth condition has been found in some cases of COVID-19. "A simple home test is to have a patient bend over to touch their toes. Usually, your voice will become more hoarse. They offer treatments in: Preventive dentistry. This grinding -- also known as bruxism -- can eventually cause bone loss that your dentist may detect on your X-rays. The muscles of the soft palate help with: When the condition appears, it doesn't always look the same for every person. Moyer VA. ", MORE:5 Things Your Blood Type Says About Your Health. It looks as if you are permanently trying to blow a whistle. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mouth-ulcers/, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mouth-cancer/symptoms/, https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/mouth-cancer/symptoms, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11184-oral-cancer, https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/h/hpv-and-oral-cancer, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/oral-cancer, https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/mouth-cancer/living-with/changes-speech, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mouth-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20350997, https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/mouth-cancer, https://www.aaoms.org/docs/media/oral_cancer/oral_cancer_self_exam.pdf, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mouth-cancer/diagnosis/, https://www.who.int/health-topics/cancer#tab=tab_3, https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=34&contentid=17740-1, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/esophagus-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html, , . Excessive tooth erosion is one way your dentist could tell if a patient may be bulimic. It is not possible to give advice nor diagnose any oral conditions based on text nor virtual consultations. Regular dental exams are important for detection and prevention of oral diseases. 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. The easiest way to inspect your mouth for these signs is to use a small hand-held mirror in a well-lit room. 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." "The mouth is the window to the body," says David Silverstrom, DDS, of The Silverstrom Group in Livingston, NJ. "If you want a healthy and predictable pregnancy, it makes sense to take care of your periodontal health as early as possible," says Donald S. Clem, DDS, a periodontist in Fullerton, Calif., and president of the American Academy of Periodontology. "Signs include chips and cracking of the teeth, plus wear and tear on the teeth from the constant . Once you've been diagnosed as having prediabetes or diabetes, your dentist may send status reports to your doctor -- letting him know, for instance, if they suspect your blood sugar is not well controlled because your gum disease has been difficult to treat. It's not clear if these tests offer any additional benefit over the oral exam. Clinical Assistant Professor. Can you tell me about your dental nurses/assistants? American Dental Association: "Oral Cancer. It is also a major source of contracting infection, from the air, or from what we eat. People who have certain heart conditions may be at higher risk of contracting disease from infections. Cancer Facts & Figures 2019. Salinas TJ (expert opinion). Ulcers in your mouth that don't heal after 2-3 weeks or bleed at the slightest touch are a common sign. Patients who have alcoholic tendencies or are just plain alcoholics, will be cavity prone. Child abuse and neglect refer to the mistreatment of children and adolescents younger than 18 years old by people who have children in their care (e.g., parents, caregivers, coaches, or teachers). A lack of saliva can cause oral health problems like cavities, gum disease, and oral infections. However, that changes if the condition shows up in children, as it can be one of the signs that a child has been abused. 1311 Jackson Ave Pull out your lower lip using your thumb and index finger and check for any lumps or irregular growths. Some groups recommend screening, while others say there isn't enough evidence to make a recommendation. By using our site, you agree to our. Research shows that people who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels, and that regular periodontal care can improve diabetes control. The more tooth fillings you need, the more sweets you've probably consuming. Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic School of Continuous Professional Development, Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Mayo Clinic on High Blood Pressure - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic on Hearing and Balance - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press, Financial Assistance Documents Minnesota, Sign up for Email: Get Your Free Resource Coping with Cancer, Tobacco use of any kind, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and snuff, among others, History of significant sun exposure, which increases the risk of lip cancer.

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