Part of your routine dental visit is a cancer screening test. Dentists and dental hygienists look at your mouth, tongue, and nearby tissue much more closely than you do. They can find pre-cancerous or cancerous spots in the early stages of growth.
Some of the most common diseases that impact our oral health include cavities (tooth decay), gum (periodontal) disease, and oral cancer.
For some, the first signs of leukemia show up in an unexpected place: the mouth. In fact, a dentist may be the first doctor to detect the cancer. Leukemia, as well as subsequent chemotherapy, has a distinct effect on dental health, which means that dental hygiene should be a priority when you're fighting the disease.
What kind of cancer can a dentist detect? A dentist can perform an oral exam of the inside and outside of your mouth area to look for signs of oral and oropharyngeal cancer.
Dentists can detect clues about your overall health. Your mouth problems can be related to diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, certain types of cancers, among others. They may be the first to notice the symptoms and will refer you to a primary care doctor for follow-up.
Sometimes a routine dental checkup can uncover lymphoma, a type of cancer, before other signs are even present. And while a cancer discovery is not welcomed, early detection is.
Dental X-rays may not reveal all instances of mouth cancer, but they can be helpful during an oral cancer screening. Specifically, dental X-rays can show if there is any cancer in the jaw that has spread from another area of the mouth or originated in the jaw.
First, your dentist can diagnose HIV/AIDS and STDs during a regular dental checkup. For HIV, the most common visible oral signs include oral warts, fever blisters, hairy leukoplakia, or oral thrush. Symptoms like dry mouth can also reflect changes in your immune system.
In addition to examining the tooth and surrounding tissue for signs of infection, your dentist may: Recommend an X-ray. This can help identify sources of dental disease that may have led to the infection. Your dentist can also use X-rays to determine if the infection has spread and may be affecting other areas.
Aside from pointing out the evident cavity or stained teeth, dentists can tell if you are sick, highly stressed, and even pregnant! The list is extensive because “good dental health is a reflection of good health overall.” Here are a handful of things that can be discovered or learned from your visits to the dentist.
Most oral diseases and conditions share modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption and an unhealthy diet high in free sugars that are common to the 4 leading NCDs (cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease and diabetes).
Dental infections, including dental caries and periodontal disease, are commonly encountered in the primary care setting in the United States. Nationally, dental caries is the most common disease in children and adults.
A pink tongue is healthy and normal. A red tongue may indicate heat in the body like a fever or a hormonal imbalance. A reddish purple tongue is a sign that there may be inflammation or an infection in the body. A pale pink tongue may be a sign of a vitamin deficiency, a weak immune system or a lack of energy.
Dentists do not officially diagnose diabetes, this should be done by a physician. However, dentists can detect signs and symptoms of diabetes in people who are undiagnosed with type 2 adult onset diabetes.
During routine dental examinations and cleanings, dentists can detect oral symptoms of stress, including orofacial pain, bruxism, temporomandibular disorders (TMJ), mouth sores and gum disease. If you're feeling tense or anxious, you should keep a watchful eye for signs of the following stress-related disorders.
X-rays help them see the condition of your teeth, roots, jaw placement and facial bone composition. They also help them find and treat dental problems early in their development. X-rays are a form of energy that can travel through or be absorbed by solid objects.