An old English proverb states that the eyes are the windows to the soul. That may be true but many health care professionals are discovering that the mouth is the window to your overall health. That’s one of the reasons dentists are such an important part of your healthcare team. We have been trained to look for all kinds of minor changes in your mouth to indicate whether your body is healthy or not. In addition, making sure that your gums are healthy and that the bacteria in your mouth is minimal, can keep your body healthy as well. In between dental checkups and visits for your more advanced cosmetic or restorative dental procedures, you can check your mouth for these changes:
A pale tongue could indicate an iron deficiency or anemia
Bright red, puffy, or abscessed gums could mean that you have gum disease or periodontal disease, an illness that could cause more than gum discomfort and actually make you sick or lead to heart attacks and strokes
Thick, stringy saliva could indicate dry mouth, which leads to tooth decay, oral yeast infections and gum disease.
Pimples, abscesses or sores anywhere in your mouth could indicate oral cancer, one of the fastest growing cancers today!
If you see ANY changes in your oral tissues or if your teeth have changed color give us a call right away! If not, keep checking and take care of your oral – and overall health – with comprehensive dental care. For more information, call me, Dr. Todd Davis in Atlanta Georgia at 404-255-7500 today!