Teeth Can Help Solve Health Mysteries
If eyes are the windows to the soul, then teeth can be the windows to the state of your overall health. Dr. Jennifer McLeod, dentist in Newberg, encourages her patients to tune in to anything unusual they notice about their teeth and gums, and to make an appointment to discuss any health concerns.
Less common dental issues, like the ones discussed below, may be indications of more serious potential health problems.
Crumbling or Cracked Teeth
Teeth are pretty durable, so it would be alarming to find that one of your teeth is breaking into pieces or cracking. This condition is common to those who tend to grind their teeth. However, teeth that break easily has also been linked to acid reflux and eating disorders. With both of these conditions, stomach acid wears away the enamel found on the surfaces of teeth. A broken or cracked tooth can turn into a bigger problem, so it’s important to get it treated as soon as possible.
A Mouth Wound Doesn’t Heal
According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 30,000 people are effected by oral cancer each year. One of the ways that Newberg dentist Dr. Jennifer McLeod screens for oral cancer is to visually inspect each patient’s teeth and gums through regularly scheduled, comprehensive oral exams. If you notice that a wound in your mouth – usually caused by biting your tongue or the inside of your cheek – isn’t healing within a week or two, it might be a good idea to bring your concern to Newberg Family Dental.
Gum Tissue Covering a Tooth
One of the purposes of gum tissue is to hold teeth in place, not cover one or more of them up. This condition can occur and is generally a sign that doses of prescribed medication need to be changed, and as soon as possible – gum tissue that covers a tooth prevents good daily dental habits.
Cheeks Have White Webs
One of the more unusual dental conditions is called Lichen planus, which looks like “white webs” on the inside of cheeks. The cause for this condition is currently not known, and has been known to effect both men and women between the ages of about 30 to 70 years of age.
Dentures Develop Crust
Dentures are like teeth and gums in that they have to be cleaned thoroughly every single day. It turns out that cleaning dentures can save a life!
Not properly cleaning dentures means that debris is left on the surface, and denture wearers can breathe that debris into their lungs and cause inflammation of airways. This condition is known as Aspiration Pneumonia and is 100% preventable. Dentures should be removed each day, brushed and kept in a cup of cleansing solution when not worn.
These dental issues aren’t common, but it’s important to call us at Newberg Family Dental with any dental needs or concerns. Call us at (503) 278-4281 to schedule an appointment with Newberg dentist Dr. McLeod and her team at Newberg Family Dental.