7 Surprising Things Your Teeth Say About Your Health

A routine dental check-up may reveal important clues about your health. Or observing unusual sensation, appearance, or feel of your teeth may be telling you something concerning your health. Only, you didn’t know.

While they may seem small and negligible problems or observations, the truth is they may be your mouth’s cry for help. It can be anything from yellow stains to sore gums. Some of the most common dental complaints may mean another thing in terms of your health. Check out below to see if you have them.

1. Red, swollen and bleeding gums. There could be a number of reasons for this – an irritating pregnancy or hormonal changes side effect; a bacterial buildup; or a sign of periodontal disease. If the symptoms manifest for a day or two and made to disappear by diligent brushing and flossing, it’s not a reason to be concerned. However, if they last for more than a week, it’s time to check for periodontal disease.
2. Sharp tooth pain. If you experience this when biting down, it could be tooth decay or cavities. If the pain is recurring for a week or more, it should mean a visit to the dentist.
3. Mouth sores. Most of the time, painful mouth sores are caused by too much eating of citrus, scalding hot foods or spicy food. Non-problematic mouth sores should disappear after two or three days. But a lingering mouth sore could indicate a serious deficiency in Vitamin A. Instead of citrus, eat more sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach which are all Vitamin A sources. If the mouth sores don’t improve, your dentist should be consulted.
4. Toothache. A throbbing pain that lasts for more than a week may indicate that you’re clenching or grinding your teeth. A night guard may be necessary for comfort. If the pain is persistent and the gums or glands swell, it could be an abscessed tooth – a tooth with root infection. A visit to the dentist is necessary.
5. Yellow or stained teeth. Yellow stains may be caused by the food you eat and drinks you take – coffee, wine, tea. Dentists recommend that you brush your teeth after consuming those drinks to prevent staining. However, brown or stripy stains are most likely caused by tetracycline antibiotics administered to you as a child, or from other medications. It does not necessarily mean that the teeth are damaged. Cosmetic procedures can help remove the stains.
6. Loose or suddenly crooked teeth. Teeth that feel loose, crooked or falling out altogether means you have periodontal disease. This is caused by bacteria which accumulate as a result of poor dental hygiene (not brushing twice a day). A dentist should be consulted immediately to remove the plaque that turned into tartar.
7. Gum pain. If your gums or sides of your teeth hurt when you breathe in cold air or drink hot or cold liquids, cavity may be the culprit. Or the gums could have drawn back exposing the roots of your teeth. This can result from clenching or grinding your teeth, bacteria or brushing too hard with toothbrush of hard bristles. If the pain is accompanied by red or white spots, it’s nothing more than harmless irritations caused by certain food or drugs. In some cases though, it could be signs of oral cancer. If the spots do not disappear for more than a week a dentist check up is necessary.  

Normally, there shouldn’t be any teeth or gums pain or discomfort that would exist for more than 3 days. If pain or discomfort exists for more than 3 days, then seeing your dentist is the best option. Basic dental procedures and check up must be done to find out the cause of pain or discomfort.