Dentists Can Diagnose More Than Tooth Problems

We know a trip to the dentist isn’t at the top of your bucket list. Your teeth look fine. Your gums aren’t bleeding, at least not all the time. Nothing hurts. Why bother making that trip when everything’s apparently in good shape? They’re just going to check for cavities, try to comprehend the amount of sugar you’ve been devouring in a given day, and lecture you about fixing your snacking and brushing habits, aren’t they? Doesn’t sound too enticing.

But what if we told you that your dentist isn’t just checking for cavities and silently judging your flossing habits when they’re peering into your mouth? Would you be fascinated to learn that dentists might actually be more like undercover medical detectives, fully capable of diagnosing a shocking number of systemic diseases just by closely observing your oral cavity?

While you wouldn’t be alone if you thought your dentist was only concerned with matters of the mouth and mouth alone, the reality is far from it. When you’re lying in that dental chair contemplating life choices (and why you always forget to floss the week before your appointment), your dentist may be the first to notice and point out signs of serious conditions that apparently have nothing to do with your teeth.

‘I think it’s time people start seeing their dentists for who they really are – an indispensable part of their health care team,’ says Dr Ihsaan Al-Hadad, an oral surgeon at Zental, an award-winning dental practice in London. ‘Your mouth is like a window to the rest of your body, and dentists are the ones who can see things in the mouth that can be indicative of other things going on in the body.’

Here’s a rundown of the many ailments your dentist might spot before your primary care doctor does.

Diabetes

If your dentist ever takes one look at your mouth and asks, “Have you ever gotten your blood sugar levels checked?” – it’s because they might actually be onto something.

Did you know that more than 1.2 million people in the UK are living with undiagnosed diabetes? Catching early signs of it in the dentist’s chair could be life-saving.

Diabetes can wreak havoc on the body, and the mouth is no exception. When sugar levels in the blood are high, they’re elevated in the saliva, too. The bacteria in the plaque around your teeth love sugar and feed on it, worsening problems like tooth decay and gum disease.

Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can thereby lead to frequent gum infections, slow-healing sores, and breath that smells suspiciously like overripe fruit (a condition known as ketoacidosis, which sounds fancy but is decidedly not).

If your gums are inflamed despite your best efforts, your dentist may suggest a quick chat with your doctor.

Anaemia

Have you noticed your gums looking as pale as a Victorian ghost and wondered what was happening? Hint: It could possibly be a sign of anaemia or low iron levels in the blood.

When your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen, your body starts dropping hints, including in your mouth – like making your gums unusually pale or your tongue eerily smooth or glossy and painful. Your food might taste different or odd because of it.

You might notice frequent mouth sores and ulcers or cracks in the corners of your mouth.

Your dentist may notice this during a routine examination and recommend a blood test in an effort to catch and stop the disease in its tracks.

Osteoporosis

The dentist folk tend to spend a great deal of time talking about the bone that supports your teeth and gums. ‘If you don’t start taking care of your teeth now, it’s going to start eating away at the bone underneath,’ or ‘Your gum disease has progressed to dangerous levels and has left you with very little bone to hold your teeth in place.’ They’re not wrong.

Your teeth may look fabulous, but what about the bone holding them in place? If that bone starts to weaken or shrink, it might not just be a result of poor oral hygiene but could be because of an underlying problem, like osteoporosis.

Women, especially postmenopausal women, are four times more susceptible to this disease. If you’re lucky, your dentist might be the first to notice the progressive bone loss characterising this condition in the x-rays of your teeth and jaw.

Think of it as your body waving a red flag before something (like a hip, God forbid) breaks unexpectedly, and take it as an early clue that your bones need some extra TLC (and possibly some calcium and vitamin D).

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Do you wake up with a mysteriously sour taste in your mouth? Have your teeth started looking a little… shorter?

GERD, or chronic acid reflux, doesn’t just make you regret that late-night pizza bing – it can also damage your teeth. You might not realise it but stomach acid creeps up into your mouth and can erode your tooth enamel, the protective topmost layer of your teeth.

If your dentist notices unusual enamel erosion on the back of your teeth, they may gently ask you to visit a gastroenterologist (and fewer spicy midnight snacks).

Eating Disorders

Your mouth has a way of ‘snitching’ on your body. You may be able to get away with hiding your eating disorder from the rest of the world, but your dentist – nuh-uh – they’ll know.

Surprisingly, your dentist can often be the first person to notice your binge-purging cycles by vomiting. The signs are similar to those of acid reflux: tooth wear and enamel erosion on the back teeth, and nothing ever escapes the eagle eye of the dentist.

Eating disorders affect girls and women twice as much as men. According to a study by the King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry, about 4,610 girls aged 15-19 and 336 boys aged 15-19 develop a new eating disorder in the UK every year.

‘Many times, you can’t really tell if the patient has an eating disorder until you see their teeth,’ says Dr. Ihsaan. ‘One look, however, at the backside of their teeth shows enamel erosion and deterioration caused by acid.’

Autoimmune Disorders

Your mouth is an early battleground for many autoimmune diseases (diseases in which your body mistakenly starts attacking its own healthy cells and tissues).

Conditions like lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, and Crohn’s disease all leave distinct calling cards in your oral cavity. Chronic dry mouth, white patches, painful ulcers, blisters, delayed healing, or swollen gums can often indicate something bigger being at play.

Sjögren’s syndrome, for example, may dry out your mouth to the point where chewing crackers feels like eating sawdust, with extreme difficulty swallowing. If your dentist notices these signs, they may recommend further testing, possibly far before you even realise something is wrong.

Oral Cancer

Oral cancers often have distinctive tell-take signs that can make dentists suspicious – maybe a sore that won’t heal, unusual white or red patches, or persistent pain. Dentists are trained to spot these early warning signs. ‘Seeing your dentist on a regular basis is the key to picking up those changes before it’s too late,’ says Dr. Ihsaan.

If something doesn’t look right, your dentist may recommend further testing, and trust us, that’s a referral you don’t want to ignore.

If caught early, oral cancer is curable. However, if left undiagnosed, it can be debilitating, and the chances for a good prognosis, slimmer.

This is one of the most important reasons you should never skip a routine checkup.

Stress

Think you handle stress well? Your teeth might be able to answer this question better.

If your dentist notices flattened, chipped, or cracked teeth, they might gently inquire about your stress levels. 

Wait, what has stress got to do with my teeth?

Chronic stress and anxiety often manifest as teeth grinding (bruxism), which can turn your molars into sad little nubs over time and cause other serious problems, for instance, jaw pain.

If you’ve been clenching your jaw more than usual or grinding your teeth in your sleep, your dentist might suggest a night guard – a protective device you can wear to protect your teeth from damage. They may also refer you to a therapist to help control your stress. (See ‘Overcome your fear of the dentist.’)

Sleep Apnea

Does your dentist often ask about your sleeping habits? Before you make any assumptions – no, they don’t care what time you go to bed, and they’re not just making small talk.

They might be looking for signs of sleep apnea, a condition where your airway gets blocked during sleep, leading to loud snoring and dangerously low oxygen levels.

Sleep apnoea affects an estimated 1.5 million adults in the UK, and yet up to 85% are undiagnosed and, therefore, untreated.

Clues like a scalloped tongue (from pressing against your teeth all night) or worn-down teeth (from clenching and grinding) can tip off your dentist that you might need a sleep study.

Dentists may just help improve your productivity and boost energy levels, among many, many other benefits, because it’s no secret that better sleep quality can drastically improve the quality of your life. How’s that for a plot twist, eh?

What Can You Do?

Well, in a nutshell, be your own best advocate for your health.

To make it easier for your dentist to gather as much useful information about your health as possible during a checkup visit, be transparent about sharing your medical history and any health updates.

Voice any concerns that you have as you would with your physician. You may believe a problem with another aspect of your health has nothing to do with your oral health, but you might be wrong.

Author’s Note:

Dentists are blisteringly active listeners. Don’t be shy. Tell them your medical issues in detail, and they’ll root out the problem, whether in the mouth or elsewhere.

Ready to Maximise Your Dental Checkups?

Your teeth might hold the key to early diagnosis of any possible underlying conditions you might have. Those biannual check-ups you keep putting off are like an early warning detection system you didn’t know you needed. And dentists? They’re the first line of defence to a wide range of systemic health issues.

So, show up for those visits and let them do what they do best. And if they suggest a follow-up with your doctor, don’t ignore it. Not just your teeth but the rest of your body will thank you immensely later.

Ready to start being proactive about your health? Now, go book that appointment. Zental is a holistic dental practice you can check out that is focused on improving the overall health and well-being of patients. And for the love of all things good, do start flossing.