Seeing your dentist twice a year may help you get early diagnoses of diseases curable if caught in early stages, including some cancers. Click through my slideshare to learn more.

1. H O W Y O U R D E N T I S T C AN H E L P
D I AG N O S E M E D I C AL
D I S O R D E R S
R AC H E L J AI N
Health &
Your Teeth

2. Visiting the
dentist twice
yearly may
help you
diagnose and
treat diseases
or disorders
regularly

3. DIABETES
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Dry mouth is often an early symptom
of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes,
as spikes in blood sugar are known
to result in reduced functionality of
the salivary glands, and dentists are
more likely to notice dry mouth than
are family doctors. Patients with
undiagnosed diabetes are also more
likely to exhibit inflamed gums or
gum disease, since the disease
leaves the immune system
compromised against common
bacterial infections.

4. SJROGEN'S SYNDROME
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Dry mouth can also be a symptom of Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune
disease that attacks mucus membranes in the eyes and mouth. Typically
accompanied by another autoimmune disorder like lupus, the disease
leaves the eyes and mouth dry and itchy. If the dry mouth your dentist
points out is accompanied by dryness of the eyes as well as other known
autoimmune disorders, you may want to check with a specialist about
Sjogren’s syndrome.

5. OSTEOPOROSIS
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In women, particularly those upwards of 45,
loose teeth can be a symptom of
osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones
begin to deteriorate due to lack of calcium.
Loose teeth may also be caused by kidney
disease or failure. When the kidneys aren’t
functioning properly, waste from the body,
stored as urea and usually secreted in the
form of urine, is broken down as ammonia
and emits a bad odor. When in disrepair,
kidneys can’t absorb calcium properly,
leading to decaying bones and teeth.

6. ANXIETY
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Abnormal wear-and-tear and chipping
are usually signs that there is stress in
the patient’s life that takes its toll in the
form of tooth clenching or grinding,
known medically as bruxism. In addition
to the aesthetic damages to teeth,
bruxism can cause bruising of the jaw and
bones if severe enough and could be an
indication of an anxiety disorder caused
by rushes of stress hormones, for which
one could seek psychiatric help.
Conversely, the grinding could be caused
by the upper and lower teeth being
misaligned. A trip to the orthodontist
would be in store for patients with this
particularly malady.

7. ANEMIA
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Gum color can be telling to dentists in
addition to all the tell-tale signs that teeth
give away. For example, when a patient’s
gums are abnormally pink or even white, a
dentist may suspect that the patient
suffers from anemia, or a blood disorder
that fails to supply adequate oxygen to
tissues, causing fatigue.

8. ORAL CANCER
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Especially for patients who have
contracted HPV, mouth and gum
abnormalities may be the first sign of
something worse. White or red patches in
the mouth, in the throat, or on the lips are
classics signs of oral cancers, as are
regular bleeding from the mouth or gums
and sores lasting longer than 2 weeks. As
long as these symptoms are caught early,
they’re generally very treatable. Twice-
yearly visits to the dentist are urgent to
staving off a much more serious diagnosis.

9. VISIT YOUR DENTIST
REGULARLY TO
STAY HEALTHY
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