The Mouth as a Marker for Disease

Is your mouth sending you a heads up about your health?

Added to Articles on Tue 09/29/2009

Tongue Tip-off

Changes in the tongue can also be a tip-off to disease. A pale, smooth, flattened and sometimes tender tongue can point to iron or vitamin B12 deficiency, a hallmark of the common blood disorder, iron-deficiency anemia. People with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis may notice tiny ulcers. If the tongue looks like a geographic map with areas of dark and light it may indicate an autoimmune disorder such as psoriasis or discoid lupus erythematosus. Recurrent episodes of white patches indicate thrush, an overgrowth of the yeast Candida, which may indicate diabetes. Strawberry red swollen tongue with a white coating and big red bumps is a symptom of Kawasaki disease.

Telling Teeth

Hairline cracks in the teeth can indicate tooth-grinding, the sleep disorder bruxism or mental stress. People with bulimia have enamel loss on their front teeth from the assault of stomach acid from repeated vomiting.

Keep Oral Traditions

Keeping up with a good program of oral hygiene and tending to dental and gum problems before they worsen is key to keeping mouths healthy. People with declining dexterity may need to make modifications that assure that good dental care continues. Electric toothbrushes, vibrating gum massagers and dental water jets can help. Routine dental visits are crucial, especially if you are planning to become pregnant or are facing a course of chemotherapy, which can reduce immunity against oral bacteria and cause mouth sores.

Here's some help for halitosis, guidance for gums and tips for tooth care.

• Investigate any changes in your oral health
• Brush in the morning, at night and after meals with a soft toothbrush or African chew stick
• Use a tongue scraper along the length of the tongue to remove odor-causing bacteria
• Use an antiseptic mouth rinse
• Floss between teeth and inside the crease where the gum and tooth meet
• Keep well hydrated and avoid mouth breathing
• Don't smoke or be near someone smoking (that can cause smoker's breath too!)
• Try chewing on neem leaves, green cardamom, cloves, parsley, guava peels and gum mastic for breath control
• Visit the dentist regularly

source: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/mouth-marker-disease?page=2#copy