Even if your teeth look white and pearly and have no cavities, symptoms in your mouth could spell trouble for other areas of your health. "If your eyes are a window into your soul, your mouth is a gateway into your health," said Dr. Sanda Moldovan, a Beverly Hills periodontist.
"The way I treat patients who come to me, I connect the mouth with the rest of the body because I do believe we're a unit, and we're no longer separating the two," Moldovan said.
It seems what's going on below can directly impact the teeth, the gums and the mouth, so never ignore an oral problem.
Here are some things your mouth can reveal about your health:
• Bleeding gums can be a symptom of hormonal imbalance: Hormone receptors are embedded in your gum tissue. During pregnancy women may experience bleeding gums, not because of a problem with a tooth but because their hormones have gone a little haywire. Ditto for menopause. Women also have more sensitive gums during their menstrual cycles, so you might avoid a trip to the dentist during your period.
• Cracked, crumbling teeth can be a symptom of gastroesphogeal reflux disease, or GERD. A lot of times people think their teeth are wearing down because they grind them. But when dentists observe teeth that melt away and have a lot of cracks, it's often from stomach acid emitted during sleep. GERD is when stomach acids come up through the esophagus into the mouth. "The hard structures of teeth are being bathed in acid and low pH and that is actually eroding the enamel off the teeth," said Dr. Jeanette Kern, who practices general dentistry in Monterey, Calif. These teeth have a very specific look — it's like when you go to the seashore and see rocks smoothed out by wear. People who grind have more flattened and sharp regions. See a gastroenterologist at the first sign of GERD.
• Bad breath can be a symptom of stomach issues. If you're brushing and flossing regularly and have good dental checkups, bad breath can be related to stomach issues. "A small bacterial overgrowth in a patient's stomach can show up as bad breath and not be associated at all with teeth," said Moldovan. It may be an indication of a liver or kidney problem. Even diabetics can have breath that smells musty like fermentation, and that means their diabetes is not under control and they should see a physician.
• Flat, worn teeth and headaches can be a symptom of stress: Flat worn teeth or morning headaches spell teeth grinding. If you sleep solo, bruxism can go unnoticed. Morning headaches and jaw pain are other telltale signs. "Worn teeth are just the beginning — grinding affects the entire masticatory apparatus — from the bones that surround the teeth to the muscles that move the jaw," said Dr. Bryon Viechnicki, an orthodontist in Bethlehem, Pa. Teeth can develop stress fractures and grinders can have muscle pain and headaches that feel sinus-related. "In many men, bruxism is a real pain in the neck — the cervical muscles can be affected," said Viechnicki. Migraines are more common in women. To protect yourself, a custom mouth guard can be made by your dentist.
