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A leading dentist has revealed how he can tell if you are more likely to die in your sleep simply by looking inside your mouth.
Dr Michael Cai, a dentist from Pitt St Dental Centre in Sydney, spoke to FEMAIL about how your teeth and gums have a lot to say about your general health.
Your state of your mouth can reveal to a trained dentist whether you are likely to develop diabetes or sleep apnoea. It can also be a reliable indictor of your stress levels and diet habits.
The Australian Dental Association considers the mouth the ‘gateway’ to the body, with the condition of our teeth and gums playing a huge role in our overall health.
Here are four surprising conclusions a dentist can make about a patient’s health simply by examining their teeth and mouth.
1. If you have diabetes, or could develop it
Dr Cai said that people who suffer from diabetes, or who are predisposed towards getting it, will often experience gum problems and, potentially, gum disease.
He explained that unbalanced blood sugar levels will dramatically affect the health of your gums and can be seen in inflammation, sensitivity or bleeding of the area.
Dr Michael Cai, from Sydney, spoke to FEMAIL about how your teeth and gums can reveal a lot about your general health
If someone is undiagnosed and their gums are consistently displaying inflammation or bleeding, Dr Cai will often send them to get tested for diabetes as a precaution.
2. If you have sleep apnea, and if you’re a mouth – or a nose – breather
The cosmetic dental expert said the state of a person’s teeth, their facial structure and overall posture can indicate whether someone is a mouth breather or a nose breather.
People who are mouth breathers are more likely to develop sleep disorders including sleep apnea, which can potentially be fatal.
Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person briefly stop breathing while asleep, causing them to repeatedly wake up during the night. Although uncommon, it is possible to die during sleep from untreated sleep apnea.
When left uncorrected over an extended period of time, sleep apnea can seriously damage your health, leading to deadly conditions such as heart disease and stroke.
Diabetes and sleep apnea are two diseases which leave tell-tale signs inside of your mouth and gums
People who suffer from the sleep disorder often have teeth that show signs of grinding, and their gums will appear red.
Dr Cai explained that he also looks at a patient’s face and posture to tell whether they are mouth breathers.
‘With mouth breathing we see people with an elongated face or short lower jaw and more soft tissue on the neck. These people usually have sleep apnea or snore.’
3. If you have an autoimmune condition
Some autoimmune diseases, such as irritable bowel syndrome, Graves’ disease and multiple sclerosis, leave sufferers experiencing ‘extreme dry mouth’.
Red sores inside of the mouth can also be an indication of Crohn’s disease or lupus.
4. What you eat and drink – and whether you smoke
Dr Cai said that habitual red wine drinkers will have a ‘distinctive’ stain on their teeth, as will people who indulge in excessive amounts of black coffee.
Dentists can also tell whether your diet is too high in sugar or too acidic in general.
‘Sugar is more associated with decay, and an acidic diet will lead to gradual thinning of the enamel on the teeth,’ Dr Cai said.
Smokers will usually exhibit stained teeth and gums that are raw and red, with an increased risk of developing oral cancer.
What is your tongue REALLY telling you about your health? Dentist reveals the worrying signs to look out for – including white patches and a ‘strawberry’ appearance
By Cindy Tran for Daily Mail Australia
Dentists have revealed the common changes in your tongue that could be telling you something more sinister about your health – including white patches, sore lumps and swelling.
Experts from the Emergency Dentist Sydney explained how the tongue can provide clues about your overall health and when a seemingly innocent change could warrant a trip to the doctor.
These include a sudden white patch on the tongue, a ‘strawberry’-like appearance and unusual or painful lumps.
Dentists have revealed the common signs your tongue may be trying to warn you about your health – including white patches, sore lumps or swelling (stock image)
White patches on the tongue usually develop from poor oral hygiene, smoking or chronic alcohol use
WHITE TONGUE
White patches on the tongue usually develop from poor oral hygiene, smoking or chronic alcohol use.
Tweak your daily oral hygiene routine by ensuring you clean your tongue with the bumpy backside of your toothbrush when you brush your teeth.
But if there’s no difference after a week or two of cleaning your tongue, it’s recommended you visit a doctor for a check-up.
‘White patches and bumps on the tongue can also often be caused by a yeast infection, or can be a sign of a condition called leukoplakia, which is often caused by tobacco or chronic alcohol use,’ the experts said.
Both conditions are easily treated by a doctor.
According to experts from Medibank, the white coating occurs when an overgrowth and swelling of papillae on the surface of the tongue causes bacteria, food and dead cells to get trapped.
STRAWBERRY TONGUE
A rosy tongue can indicate your taste buds are reacting badly to a certain food, stress, or even a deficiency in a vitamin such as folic acid or B12.
One of the most common causes is a dry mouth so it’s best to stay hydrated.
A bright, strawberry tongue accompanied by a sore throat is often a sign of an infection like strep throat or even scarlet fever.
The conditions can be easily treated with antibiotics so it’s recommended you see a doctor immediately for a check-up.
A rosy tongue (left) can indicate a deficiency in a vitamin such as folic acid or B12, while those with ridges or indentations (right) in their tongue stems from genetics
TINY BUMPS
The bumps on the tongue are often caused by a food you have recently consumed – especially if it is spicy or hot.
They normally disappear by themselves rather quickly but if you experience a discomfort in the mouth, it could be canker sores or herpes (cold sores).
The conditions will eventually go away on their own but can be treated to speed up healing and ease discomfort.
RIDGES OR INDENTATIONS
Those with ridges or indentations in their tongue may find they stem from genetics.
‘They may also be a sign that you have a fissured tongue, a long crack down the middle of the tongue that again, most people are just born with,’ the experts said.
‘It is something you should be aware of though, as it’s easy for food to get stuck in that crack and cause bad breath and help the growth of potentially damaging to your teeth bacteria.’
Brushing your tongue regularly will help with this.
For serious swelling (left), it can be a sign that you’re allergic to something you consumed, while a persistent sore or lump on the side of the tongue is a sign of oral mouth cancer (right)
SWOLLEN TONGUE
The tongue can develop a mild swelling after reacting to a very hot cup of coffee or accidentally biting your tongue instead of your food.
The swelling goes away on its own but experts suggest sucking on an ice cube can help speed things up.
For serious swelling, it can be a sign that you’re allergic to something you consumed.
‘This can impair your breathing, something that is obviously dangerous, so medical attention should be sought right away,’ the dentists said.
ORAL (MOUTH) CANCER
There are different cancers that can form on the tongue lips or gums.
People aged over 40, particularly those who smoke, are at increased risk of mouth cancer with most first noticing a persistent sore or lump on the side of the tongue.
Other symptoms include red or white patches and unusual bleeding or numbness.
If you experience any symptoms, it’s important to visit your doctor immediately.
The doctor will look at your medical history, symptoms, and carry out an examination of the tongue and throat. Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor will decide on what treatment is required.
If treated early, the prognosis for mouth cancer is generally good.
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