What Your Teeth & Gums Say About Your Health

Gum Disease & Diabetes

Believe it or not, individuals with diabetes can often experience the early signs or symptoms of gum disease — and it all goes back to the state of one’s teeth and gums. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, when it comes to dental care, gum disease can manifest because of a too-high glucose (sugar) content in the blood (which is caused by diabetes). Whether it be mild or severe, gum disease can look like:

• Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
• Consistent bad breath
• Gums “pulling away” from the teeth
• Long-lasting infections between the teeth and gums

Proper, regular dental care, however, can help manage these symptoms! A deep cleaning appointment with Beaver Brooke Dental is an excellent first step in decreasing your chances of getting gum disease.

Teeth Grinding & Stress

Do you adopt any specific habits when you get stressed? For some individuals, it’s common to grind their teeth, consciously or unconsciously, during times of stress or anxiety. Common symptoms may include recurring facial pain, headaches, or pain in the jaw — and on the more extreme side, worn-down teeth or broken teeth. If you recognize any of these behaviors in yourself, or in a loved one, the dental care specialists at Beaver Brooke Dental can help provide guidance! By scheduling an appointment, we can help you determine the state of your teeth and provide advice moving forward!

Tooth Loss & Osteoporosis

As dental care patients age, osteoporosis may increasingly become a primary concern; this condition affects an individual’s bones, causing them to become less dense and more susceptible to fractures. With this in mind, it’s also possible for osteoporosis to be linked to bone loss in the jaw, and therefore tooth loss. Because the jaw is responsible for anchoring and supporting the teeth, if it becomes less dense over time, then teeth can fall out in older patients. If you have been diagnosed with this condition, our family dental care plans at Beaver Brooke Dental can help you maintain your oral health and to keep your teeth as healthy as possible!

Pale Gums & Anemia

When you look into your bathroom mirror and inspect your gums, do they look light pink? If they do, there’s no issue — but if your gums are slowly starting to look more pale, then it can be a sign of anemia. Anemia is a condition that sets in when your body doesn’t have enough red blood cells, which are responsible for carrying oxygen to the body’s organs and tissues; when your gums don’t get enough oxygen, they may turn pale. However, aside from the paleness, patients experiencing this may also:

• Feel overall fatigue or weakness
• Have pale or yellow-ish skin
• Experience breathing problems, headaches, dizziness or lightheadedness

If you suspect your overall dental care may be affected by anemia, a teeth cleaning appointment with Beaver Brooke Dental can be the first step to solving the problem!