Call (206) 219-5306 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.

Call (206) 219-5306 to speak with a licensed insurance agent.

You Might Be Surprised at What Your Dentist Can Detect

Posted by Nate Root, June 22, 2022

You already know that regular dental cleanings are important to protect your teeth and gums. Regularly removing plaque and attending your checkups can help you to ward off cavities, dental emergencies, periodontal (gum) disease, and more. And of course, healthy teeth and gums will mean you spend less on out-of-pocket dental care.

But did you know that your dentist can detect health conditions beyond his or her specialty? He won’t diagnose you with these conditions, of course, but will point out any warning signs and urge you to go see your regular doctor right away.

Warning signs of heart disease. Oddly enough, the bacteria that contribute to periodontal disease, or gum disease, can make their way into your bloodstream. They can contribute to plaque buildup in your arteries or contribute to heart disease. When your dentist spots signs of gum disease, it might also be a good idea to attend a heart health screening.

Diabetes. Bleeding gums and unpleasant breath are early warning signs of diabetes. This is especially true if you practice good oral hygiene. Your dentist might recommend that you get screened for diabetes if she notices certain signs in your mouth.

Leukemia. Leukemia in more advanced stages can cause gums to swell and bleed. Getting tested can be a wise step if you experience these symptoms unexpectedly.

Kidney disease and pancreatic cancer. Periodontal disease is also linked to kidney disease and pancreatic cancer. Since the links go both ways, your doctor and dentist each need to know if you’ve been diagnosed with any of these conditions.

Crohn’s disease. If your dentist notices certain lesions in your mouth (white with red circles around them) this can be a sign of Crohn’s disease. This is especially true if you suffer any type of digestive discomforts on a regular basis.

Oral health is strongly linked to inflammation and other health conditions in the rest of the body. So, attending your twice-annual dental cleanings can actually be a great way to keep your whole body healthy. And if you’re worried about the price tag, know that some Private Insurance plans now include coverage for dental health care.  Contact a licensed agent for details

Need more information?

Contact us online to learn more

Contact Us

Close Accessibility Tools
Accessibility Controls Reset
Content Adjustments
Font Size

Default

Line Height

Default

Content Scaling

Default

Highlight Titles
Highlight Links
Highlight Forms
Align Left
Align Center
Align Right
Focus Mode
Color Adjustments
Desaturate
Monochrome
Contrast

Default

Saturation

Default

Accessibility Statement

Despite our attempts to make this website accessible for everyone, there may still be some pages or sections that are not completely accessible, are in the process of becoming accessible, or do not have a suitable technological solution to make them accessible. Nevertheless, we are always striving to enhance our accessibility by adding, updating, improving its options and features, and incorporating new technologies.

We want to provide our users with the best experience possible, so we strive to support as many browsers and assistive technologies as possible.

If you wish to contact this website's owner, please use the contact form on the website.

Our User Interface Adjustment Options

Font adjustments - With this tool, users can modify font size, style, letter spacing, and line height for improved alignment and readability.

Color adjustments - Users can customize their color contrast profiles to light, dark, desaturated, and monochrome.

Content highlighting - Users can prioritize key elements such as links, forms, and titles.

Content focus - Users can enable focus mode to highlight the current page information based on their mouse movement.

Close