MANY of us can put off going to the dentist.
Someone peering into your mouth isn’t always the most pleasant experience – and on top of that, NHS dentist fees increased by 8.5 per cent last month.
Bleeding gums or wobbly teeth aren’t something you should ignore
But if you notice a few specific changes to your mouth or nashers, you’d do well not to ignore them.
According to an expert dentist, they could be tell-tale signs that something is seriously wrong with your health.
Leading dental expert that the Rüh Dental clinic, Dr Rizwan Mahmood, said you should try and visit your dentist at least twice a year for a check-up and clean.
And advised you keep on top of brushing and flossing at home, and keep an eye on your oral health to spot anything out of the ordinary.
If you notice anything ‘untoward’, such as pain in your mouth, that’s a sign you should see a dentist or medical practitioner right away, Dr Mahmood added.
These are the six changes in your mouth to watch out for, as he told Wales Online.
1. Sore and bleeding gums
Aching or bleeding gums is not something you should push aside, warned Dr Mahmoud, as it could be a sign of gum disease.
This is prevalent in people who already have underlying conditions or ailments that can weaken the immune system, such as diabetes, putting you in danger of infection, the dentist said.
Diabetes sufferers are susceptible to gum disease known as periodontal disease – inflammation in the gums and the bones around your teeth that also causes bad breath (halitosis) and even loss of teeth.
They’re also prone to dry mouths due to a lack of saliva, which which in turn can cause ulceration and tooth decay, as well as oral thrush, he continued.
Saliva helps control levels of bacteria in the mouth and washes away acid from the teeth and gums, according to Diabetes UK.
So low levels of saliva can make it easier for bacteria to thrive in your mouth, increasing your risk of inflammation in your gums.
If you thought gum disease couldn’t be that serious, here’s something to keep in mind: Dr Mahmood pointed out that people with gum disease are twice or three times more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or develop heart disease and other serious cardiovascular complications.
“There are logical reasons why dental health and heart health may be related,” he explained, naming inflammation as a common occurrence in both diseases.
But you can also develop heart disease due to poor oral health and gum disease.
“The bacteria from the diseased gums can spread through your bloodstream and attach itself to a damaged area of your heart causing inflammation.
“This can lead to endocarditis – an infection of the inner lining of the heart – and other cardiovascular problems such as atherosclerosis (clogged arteries).”
2. Wobbly teeth
If your teeth are lose or falling out, this can be a sign of advanced gum disease, according to Dr Mahmoud.
It can also be an early sign of osteoporosis, a health condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break.
Losing teeth is definitely a sign to visit a doctor or dentist, he said.
3. Jaw pain
You might occasionally get a sore jaw from clenching your teeth.
But in rare cases, pain in that area can be an indicator of something more sinister, such as a heart attack, Dr Mahmoud warned.
“Your jaw could hurt with cardiac arrest because the nerves that detect pain coming from the heart, travel to the same general area in your spinal cord as they share the same nerve pathway.
“These signals then work their way up to the brain. So, in essence your jaw is signalling pain on behalf of your heart.”
According to NHS guidance, other signs of a heart attack include:
chest pain – a feeling of pressure, heaviness, tightness or squeezing across your chestpain in other parts of the body – it can feel as if the pain is spreading from your chest to your arms (usually the left arm, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and tummyfeeling lightheaded or dizzysweatingshortness of breathfeeling sick or being sick an overwhelming feeling of anxiety (similar to a panic attack)coughing or wheezing
Though jaw pain as a sign of a heart attack is rare, Dr Mahmoud emphasised that it’s important to be able to recognise these symptoms.
4. Smelly breath
A dry mouth or certain foods can cause bad breath – or halitosis – but it could be a red flag for gum disease or gingivitis.
In other cases, Dr Mahmoud said it could point to a sinus infection, diabetes, a chronic lung infection, liver or kidney disease.
5. Lumps or sores in your mouth
You should check any new lesions in your mouth with your dentist, Dr Mahmoud said, as lumps or sores could be a sign of a canker sore.
Canker sores can be caused by a fungal infection or something as serious as cancer.
The dentist said: “Oral cancer often starts as a small white or red spot or sore in the mouth and it is more likely to affect smokers or alcohol drinkers.”
Signs of mouth cancer include:
mouth ulcers that are painful and do not heal within several weeksunexplained, persistent lumps in the mouth or the neck that do not go awayunexplained loose teeth or sockets that do not heal after extractionsunexplained, persistent numbness or an odd feeling on the lip or tonguesometimes, white or red patches on the lining of the mouth or tongue These can be early signs of cancer, so they should also be checkedchanges in speech, such as a lisp
See a GP or dentist if these symptoms do not get better within 3 weeks, particularly if you drink or smoke, NHS guidance said.
6. Changes to tooth enamel and surfaces
Teeth that look eroded and translucent can indicate acid reflux or an eating disorder like bulimia, Dr Mahmood explained.
That’s because stomach acid can be very abrasive and wear down the enamel on your pearly whites.
And excessive vomiting can also give you a dry mouth and lips, swollen salivary and glands, and your teeth can end up feeling more sensitive.
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