If the eyes are a window to the soul, the mouth might be described as a window to the rest of the body. Research has found that many symptoms that appear in the mouth are not limited to it. In fact, from bleeding gums to a white coated tongue, oral conditions can provide a wealth of clues about your general state of health. Here’s what you need to know.
Dry mouth
A dry mouth (also known as xerostomia) can be an early symptom of diabetes, because high glucose levels can slow the natural flow of saliva. Saliva helps wash away bacteria and acid around teeth and gums, so a dry mouth can also leave you more prone to gum disease.
Another (perhaps more obvious) cause of xerostomia is dehydration. So if you only experience it every now and then the first remedy to try is to drink more water.
Bleeding gums
Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease caused by a build-up of plaque, and can cause your gums to bleed when you brush or floss. The good news is that you can help prevent and treat gingivitis by brushing and flossing twice a day. It’s worth remembering that electric toothbrushes and electric flossing are better than their manual counterparts for maintaining oral hygiene. In fact, bleeding gums can actually be caused by over exuberant manual flossing.
Other potential causes are diabetes, a lack of Vitamin C and even scurvy, a disease that can occur as the result of poor nutrition.
Mouth ulcers
Many mouth ulcers appear without any obvious cause, and disappear again in the same inexplicable fashion (and usually within a week or two). But one trigger of recurrent mouth ulcers is thought to be stress and anxiety. Some experts believe stress causes your immunity to plummet, which can make you more vulnerable to developing mouth ulcers. Do see your doctor if an ulcer lasts more than three weeks, but for recurring short-lived sores it might be worth thinking about ways to do less and relax more.
Enamel erosion
The wearing away of tooth enamel is often down to the usual suspects: drinking too many sugary drinks, a diet high in sugars and starches, and natural wear and tear. But one less well known cause is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD - also known as acid reflux - is a condition in which stomach acids leaks into the oesophagus. When it reaches the mouth, it can erode the enamel on your teeth. GERD sometimes shows no other symptoms, so your dentist might be the first to identify it through the unusual erosion of the surface of your teeth.
White tongue
A white coating or white patches on the tongue are usually harmless and short lived. They can happen when bacteria and fungi make a temporary home on your tongue’s surface, which might sound horrible but is, in fact, quite harmless.
Just occasionally white tongue signifies a wider problem. It can be caused by a long-term immune disorder called oral lichen planus, which can cause some discomfort but is easily managed. Other causes include oral thrush, a sometimes painful fungal infection, and a condition called leukoplakia, which presents as a white patch in the mouth and sometimes on the tongue. Leukoplakia is usually harmless but in rare cases can turn cancerous, so it’s worth seeing your GP or dentist if a coated tongue or white patch lasts more than two weeks.
Worn teeth
Worn teeth might simply be the result of years of wear and tear. Occasionally, they can be a symptom of poor sleep. The connection is not as bizarre as it might first appear. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes interrupted sleep, and one of the first symptoms is tooth grinding, also known as bruxism. If your dentist notices worn teeth with no other apparent cause, it’s worth getting the possibility of sleep apnea checked out. It leads to fatigue, and with it a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.
These days technology makes it easier to stay in control of our oral health. Simply pair an electric toothbrush and flossing with twice-yearly visits to the dentist and you’ll put yourself in control not only of your oral health, but your overall health.
The new generation of electric toothbrushes such as Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean can remove up to seven times more plaque than a manual toothbrush, for up to 100% healthier gums and whiter teeth in just one week. Partner your Philips Sonicare electric toothbrush with a Sonicare AirFloss, an innovative, fast and hassle-free way to remove up to 99.9% of plaque (1) from hard-to-reach places in just 60 seconds using blasts of air and water or mouthwash and is proven to improve the gum health of 97% of users (2) With this unbeatable combination from Philips, plaque has nowhere to hide and you can enjoy fresh breath confidence.
1. From the treated areas; in a lab study, actual in-mouth results may vary
2. When used in conjunction with a manual toothbrush and anti-microbial mouth rinse in patients with mild to moderate gingivitis