THE HEALTH PALETTE MAGAZINE
WATCH YOUR MOUTH WHY YOUR DENTAL APPOINTMENTS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOU REALISE The wearing of masks during the pandemic has also made many more aware of the smell of their own breath. If you are sure that the smell from your mouth is not just the lingering aroma of the tuna and onion sandwich you ate for lunch, raising this concern in the dental surgery is the safest place. Your dentist is the best person to tell you if there could be deeper causes behind the bad smell such as gastric / digestive issues, sinus problems or even post-nasal drips. Within the black community type 2 diabetes is more than 4 times more likely to be diagnosed in comparison to other racial groups. by Dr Ruth, award winning general & aesthetic dentist
a simple dental examination may save your life
Think about all the things we put our mouths through, from chewing food, to kissing loved ones or even, for some, biting our nails! Recently, our mouths have been hidden behind masks in the aim to protect not only ourselves but others around us. The mouth has more functions than just tasting food
According to an article published in Dentistry Today,
and speaking. The mouth is often the first place where
there is strong scientific evidence proving gum disease
disease manifests and for dentists a patient’s mouth can
has a bi-directional relationship with diabetes. By simply
provide information about that individual’s general
looking in the mouth of a diabetic patient, dentists can
overall health.
identify how well managed a patient’s diabetes is.
Dental care professionals are taught to screen patients
Immunocompromised diseases such as Lupus, HIV &
for signs of oral cancer, so a simple dental examination
AIDS and Crohn's disease can all present with oral
may save your life.
manifestations such as mouth ulcers, cold sores and fungal infections. There are very few systemic diseases
Besides the obvious, such as checking and detecting for
that are not linked to or affected by an unhealthy
cavities in the mouth, dentists have the ability to notice
mouth.
and spot other signs and symptoms of disease that may
This is why attending your dental appointments twice a
manifest within the mouth.
year is so important. It is our duty as dentists to make For instance, very pale-looking gums and a swollen red
sure that we take a holistic approach to caring for our
coloured tongue may trigger your dentist to ask
patients and their bodies, and it all starts with the
questions about whether or not you’ve been more tired
mouth.
than usual and may even suggest a blood test to check your iron levels as this could indicate undiagnosed
If your mouth is healthy, your body will definitely be
anaemia.
healthier.
Ruth was born in Essex but has lived, worked and studied across the U.K.. Since qualifying in 2015, she has undertaken a range of different job positions, including community dental officer and clinical lecturer. She was awarded Best Young Aesthetic Dentist at the Clinical Dentistry awards 2022. She currently works in private practice where she provides general and cosmetic dentistry.
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