Your Oral Health Speak Volumes About Your Wellness

DRY MOUTH. Dry mouth occurs when your salivary glands do not produce enough saliva. The condition is caused by several factors, such as medication, cancer radiation treatment, mouth breathing, and activities like smoking and drinking high amounts of caffeine and alcohol.

“With dry mouth, you may have trouble chewing and swallowing, which makes eating difficult and leads to malnutrition,” says Dr. Messadi. Dry mouth also may cause friction on the inside of the cheeks from constant rubbing against the teeth or dentures, which can lead to mouth irritation and ulcers. Dry mouth also increases bacteria growth, which enhances your risk of tooth decay, says Dr. Messadi.

More than 1,000 medications are known to interfere with salivary production, according to the National Institutes on Health (NIH). These medications include drugs for urinary incontinence, allergies, high blood pressure, and depression.

Burning mouth syndrome, another common side effect of dry mouth, is a neuropathic pain disorder that affects the tongue, lips, and palate. This condition causes burning sensations that worsen throughout the day. It is often accompanied by changes in your sense of taste and makes food taste bitter, salty, or metallic.

Dry mouth can be a warning sign for diabetes, says Dr. Messadi. It is also one of the hallmark symptoms of the autoimmune disease Sjögren’s syndrome, which targets the salivary glands and lacrimal glands (found on the outer position of the upper eye) and causes dry mouth and dry eyes. Sjögren’s syndrome strikes women more than men (nine to one ratio) and usually occurs in younger women in their 30s, yet may affect older age groups too.

BLEEDING GUMS. Bleeding or red and puffy gums are signs of inflammation from plaque and tartar deposited below the gum line. This condition is called gingivitis. Left untreated, more bacteria will form until the tissue becomes infected, which will eventually lead to full periodontitis and tooth loss. “Bleeding and puffy gums sometimes may be a warning sign of leukemia and diabetes,” says Dr. Messadi.

BAD BREATH. Bad breath is often a red flag of severe periodontal disease. This happens when excess anaerobic bacteria, which lurk in places oxygen cannot easily reach, like between your teeth, under the gum line, and the back of the tongue, release foul-smelling gases. If anaerobic bacteria continue to build up, they will eventually get into the bloodstream and trigger inflammation. “Older adults naturally have weakened immune systems, and inflammation can make them more prone to illnesses like pneumonia,” says Dr. Messadi. Chronic inflammation also increases your risk of heart disease. In fact, according to the American Academy of Periodontology, people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to have heart disease. Bad breath also is a possible warning for diabetes, lung and throat cancer, and liver diseases.

Practice good oral hygiene.

The best way to prevent and reverse gum disease and thus improve your overall health is by practicing better oral hygiene. Here are some tips:

➥ Combat dry mouth by quitting smoking and reducing your caffeine and alcohol intake by at least one-half and drinking four to eight glasses of water per day to keep your mouth moist.

➥ Also, use alcohol-free mouthwashes and toothpaste. “Moistening sprays and gels also help keep your mouth moist,” says Dr. Messadi.

➥ If you take medication that causes dry mouth, check with your doctor about whether you should change your dosage. Some people with dry mouth also benefit from chewing sugarless gum.

➥ Brush at least twice a day to fight gingivitis (see “What You Can Do” on opposite page). If holding a brush is hard due to arthritis or poor grip strength, wrap your toothbrush handle with aluminum foil to make it bulky, or try an electric or battery-operated toothbrush, which has a longer, thicker handle.

➥ Use a tongue scraper when you brush to remove bacteria from your tongue and help to reduce bad breath.

➥ Floss twice a day to remove plaque and trapped food that can decay and increase bacteria buildup. Guide the floss between your teeth using an up and down rubbing motion. If flossing is difficult, use an interdental cleaner, such as a special wooden or plastic pick, stick, or brush designed to clean between the teeth.

➥ Don’t sleep in your dentures. Brush them twice a day and soak overnight with a cleanser.

➥ Visit your dentist twice a year for a checkup exam and professional cleaning.

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