Your mouth is a gateway to the rest of your body, so it may not surprise you to learn that it also holds a lot of clues about the state of your overall health. Even if your teeth, gums, and other oral tissues seem pretty healthy, they may hold valuable information. At your next appointment, Dr. Lozada, our dentist in Santa Clarita, will check for more than just dental problems when he looks in your mouth with that little mirror.
Common problems that have oral symptoms include:
1- Hormonal imbalances
Female hormones can cause gums to become more sensitive and prone to bleeding. You may be particularly vulnerable to gum disease during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, as well as during your menstrual cycle.
2- Nutritional deficiencies
If you are dieting or simply have an unhealthy diet, you may be more likely to have sores in your mouth or soft tissue abnormalities.
3- GERD
GERD is a digestive disorder that causes acids to come back into the mouth, often during sleep, affecting the teeth, which leads to enamel erosion and damage. It may also cause chronic bad breath.
4- Gluten intolerance
Canker sores can occur for no obvious reason, but chronic canker sores have been linked to gluten intolerance.
5- Heart disease
Periodontal disease has been linked to heart disease. The bacteria responsible for periodontal disease can access the bloodstream and trigger the growth of plaque in the blood vessels, which can increase the risk of heart disease.
Call us today to find out more or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Lozada.
Leave a Reply