“The mouth is the mirror of overall health,” says the United States Surgeon General, and he’s right. It should seem obvious, then, that whatever affects our mouth should affect our body and vice versa. Yet, most people in our country are either completely ignorant or very ill informed about their oral health, especially in light of their medical problems. Medical problems frequently start showing signs and symptoms in a person’s mouth before they show any symptoms affecting their general health. Often such problems are first detected by a dental surgeon, who then refers patients to a general physician for a thorough examination.
Frequently, people who have come to a dentist’s office will skip giving their medical records, even when asked because they do not understand the correlation between the two. That this should come from the people of a country with such wide understanding of the way human body works, is really surprising. ‘If you have ulcers in your mouth, then something must be wrong in your stomach,’ is not just a grandmother’s tale.
Here are some common problems affecting the population at large, and the reasons why a dentist should be confided in.
• Diabetes
Diabetes Mellitus is an endocrine (hormonal) disorder that leads to a plethora of problems like delayed wound healing, kidney problems, vascular (blood vessels related) problems, and heart problems. It also causes severe periodontitis (infection and inflammation of gums and tooth supporting tissues) which can cause premature tooth loss. Likewise, poor oral hygiene can lead to bacterial infection of the gums, which like any other infection can send blood sugar levels for a toss.
Diabetes can cause other oral problems such as yeast infection, sore mouth (especially if dentures are being worn) and bad breath or halitosis. Dry mouth, is caused due to under-production of saliva, which is necessary for keeping tooth surfaces moist and clean. In its absence, teeth are susceptible to dental decay.
• Hypertension
High blood pressure per se does not cause any problem in the mouth. Uncontrolled blood pressure can be a problem if a tooth needs to be removed for any reason as bleeding becomes difficult to stop. Any dental treatment is best postponed to a later date, till the blood pressure levels are brought down to the normal range.
Some of the medications prescribed for blood pressure, have the potential to cause sudden and unexplained gum enlargement, to the point that it becomes difficult to masticate food. All it requires is a change of medication which improves the gum condition in few days.
• Heart Problems
It has long been speculated that the origin of bacteria in case of endocarditis or infection of the heart walls and vessels, is from the oral cavity. Bacteria from the oral cavity gain access into the blood stream and attach themselves to the walls of blood vessels and cause adhesions which lead to blockages. It is prudent to get your teeth cleaned once every three months if you have cardiac problems. However any dental treatment is initiated only after gaining the written consent of the person’s cardiac physician and under antibiotic coverage.
The dental care provider must be informed about the following heart problems, as pre-treatment with antibiotics may be required.
1. Arrythmias
2. Congenital heart defect / valve defect
3. Previous history of endocarditis
4. Pacemaker
5. Mitral valve prolapse
• Thyroid problems
Hyperthyroidism is a condition where the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland in the neck, produces an excess of thyroid hormone. It causes greater than normal reactions to any stimuli. Hot flushes, irritability, are common. It can cause very early eruption and early loss of teeth. Dental decay is a common problem. Burning mouth syndrome and osteoporosis of both the jaws are also seen in these patients.
Hypothyroidism, where there is underproduction of thyroid hormone, causes the opposite reaction. Lethargy, fatigue, and loss of appetite are common. It can lead to delayed or non-eruption of teeth. Dry mouth can result in dental decay, thickened tongue (macroglossia), altered taste sensation (dysgeusia), poor periodontal health, difficulty in wound healing and hoarseness of voice.
• Kidney problems
Kidney problems generally lead to many other problems such as heart disorders, high blood pressure, anemia, anorexia, and bone problems. In oral cavity they cause bad breath, poor periodontal health, premature tooth loss and inflammation of oral tissues.
Dental treatment is best delayed till the day after dialysis (mechanical blood cleansing) is done. Also any medication that a dentist prescribes has to be taken only with the express consent of the nephrologist as some medications may worsen the condition.
• Anemia
Anemia is a condition where the hemoglobin content of blood becomes very low. Some of the common oral manifestations of anemia are bald tongue, burning mouth, and difficulty in swallowing.
• Respiratory Problems
Respiratory problems frequently lead to mouth breathing, which causes dry mouth and subsequently cavities. Some of the medications which are prescribed for respiratory problems also cause dry mouth, soreness in the mouth, fungal infection of oral tissues etc.
Most of the medical conditions have oral manifestations, as can be amply deduced from above. Such problems are enough to cause early loss of teeth and subsequent difficulty in chewing. These sequelae can easily be averted by a routine procedure such as scaling (professional cleaning of teeth by using an ultrasonic device), fillings, and prescription of saliva substitutes, or emollients and a follow-up every six months.
Never mind the number of options available to replace missing teeth; one will never again feel the same delectability and satisfaction of eating food as with natural teeth, if they are lost.
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—About our writer:
I am a practising dental surgeon by profession, and a freelance writer by passion. Apart from that I am an avid reader, a complete foodie, an animal-lover, and a reasonably good photographer. I love to travel, and my constant companions on each of my travels are my pen and my camera.
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