We all talk with our mouth
s, but if our mouths can talk on their own what would it say about your health? Did you know that your mouth can give you clues to disorders and diseases? Your teeth, gums, cheeks, tongue, and even your lips are all the indicators in getting these clues.
What kind of clues can your teeth behold apart from cavities? You may have beautiful pearly whites, but just because you have white teeth does not mean everything is well and healthy. For example, are the tops of your back molars worn away and flattened? If yes, this indicates clenching and grinding due to stress. Most dentists would recommend a night guard for clenching and grinding. Stress causes people to clench and grind, this strains out your jaw which may cause a clicking noise and pain when you open and close your mouth. If you ever realized loss of enamel on the back of your upper teeth, stomach acid may be the cause of this. So if that is the case this may indicate bulimia. Crowns will be in need due to the loss of enamel which leaves the pulp and nerve exposed.
If you pass the teeth in your mouth and look at the gums and cheeks you can find more clues. If your dentist diagnosed you with periodontal disease, this is a huge indicator for diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and also respiratory diseases. Also, pay more attention to if your mouth is ever dry or if you have bad breath because these are signs of diabetes too. Doctors can also find signs of cancer from ulcerated lesions or tiny red hemorrhages with bleeding on your gums or inside your cheeks.
Another tell tale sign that something might be amiss with your health is your tongue. Smooth, bumpy, red, pink, wet or dry…all these signs have some kind of meaning when you are dealing with your tongue. A smooth, flat tongue or dark red patches on the underside of your tongue may be a sign of iron-deficiency anemia. If your tongue has red bumps or has some what of a strawberry texture to it, this may flag Kawasaki disease which is an inflammation of the blood vessels.
Candida albicans is a type of yeast infection that may be found on your lips. So, if you have cracked lips this can indicate this yeast infection. Swelling or lesions on your lips may be an early sign of an inflammatory bowel disorder called Crohn’s disease.
Your mouth is where the clues to your health are held. So let your mouth talk and tell you what is going on!
Coffee is delicious and the caffeine can be the only thing that gets you through the day. We understand! This post isn’t to tell you to quit drinking coffee, but to inform you about the effect it has on your teeth.
We’ve all seen glow-in-the-dark t-shirts, little kids shoes that light up when they walk, and even belts with flashing lights on them. But light up teeth? Two designers in Japan are doing just that to advertise a winter sale at their clothing store, Laforet Harajuku. 
Dr. Gibbs has a tip to make your teeth look whiter in less than five minutes, just in time for your family Christmas pictures. How do we do it? With lipstick! (Sorry men, you’re out of luck this time!) The right shade of lipstick can make your teeth look whiter and brighter, and help your natural, healthy beauty shine through. 
When people get stressed, they often say that they are “clenching” their jaw. But did you ever think about what it means to actually do this? What effects it might have on your overall health?
At Smile Glen Ellyn, we are always looking for new ways to make your life healthier and happier and new studies now prove that dentists can join primary care physicians in fight against diabetes. Dr. Gibbs and his staff want to do everything possible to help patients live a long and happy life.
