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

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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 and speaking The mouth is often the first place where disease manifests and for dentists a patient’s mouth can provide information about that individual’s general overall health

Dental care professionals are taught to screen patients for signs of oral cancer, so a simple dental examination may save your life

Besides the obvious, such as checking and detecting for cavities in the mouth, dentists have the ability to notice and spot other signs and symptoms of disease that may manifest within the mouth

For instance, very pale-looking gums and a swollen red coloured tongue may trigger your dentist to ask questions about whether or not you ’ ve been more tired than usual and may even suggest a blood test to check your iron levels as this could indicate undiagnosed anaemia