Dentists are Disease-Detectives Too!

While a toothache, mouth sore, or sensitive teeth will have you knocking at your dentist’s clinic, there’s actually another set of benefits that you get when you schedule an appointment here at our Hudson Valley dental practice. Did you know that the state of your mouth could actually provide clues on the state of your overall health? It has been estimated that 90 percent of systemic disease conditions have oral manifestations.

By seeing us regularly, you are not only doing your oral health a favor but you are also a step closer to achieving excellent health. Below are some examples how dentists could be disease-detectives, too!

• Worn-out teeth may be a sign that you grind your teeth at night. Such grinding may be a symptom of a TMJ  (temporomandibular joint) disorder.

• If your enamel (the outermost covering of your teeth) is too thin (which could be precursor of tooth sensitivity), this could mean that you are anorexic, bulimic, suffering from acid reflux, or any disease condition which regularly bathe your teeth and mouth with stomach acid.

• Swollen gums may be normal at times, particularly for women due to their hormonal shifts, but it may be another story when it happens every so often. This could be a sign that you are deficient of Vitamin C or may be suffering from cardiovascular disease, diabetes or leukemia.

• Tiny red or white patches in your tongue that remains for a long time may be an early sign of oral cancer.

Get in touch with us today and let us help you improve not just your oral health but your overall health as well!

To learn about our family dentistry practice in Hudson Valley, make an appointment.