What Your Teeth Say About Your Overall Health

Taking care of your teeth does more for you than just keep your smile shining; oral health can help you prevent medical diseases far beyond tooth decay, and the condition of your teeth is often a telling sign of certain medical problems arising in other parts of your body.

Anxiety or Sleep Disorders

Do you find yourself waking up with a sore jaw? Are you perhaps grinding your teeth throughout the day? These could be signs of a sleep disorder as teeth grinding is statistically more frequently found in those who also suffer from sleep apnea. People who suffer from severe anxiety might take to teeth grinding as a subconscious way to cope with stress- a very dangerous habit to develop!

Eating Disorders or Poor Diet

Enamel erosion is often easy for a dentist to spot, and enamel erosion from purging caused by certain eating disorders like bulimia or anorexia may cause the dentist to begin to ask questions of the patient's health and well being.


Much like oral problems caused by eating disorders, a poor diet can lead to discolored, defenseless, and cavity-filled teeth. Dark liquids like coffee, tea, or sodas can easily stain teeth, and the sugars in food and drinks can cause cavities. Those patients who suffer from alcohol abuse are also likely to be noticed by a dentist, as most dentists can still smell the alcohol on a patient’s breath, even hours after consumption.

Heart Disease

Some people may have heart disease or diabetes and be completely unaware! One possible sign to look for is gum problems. Although the connection between gum disease and heart health is not totally clear, professionals do know that those with gum disease are more likely to suffer from diabetes, and those with diabetes are more likely to suffer from gum disease. Brushing and flossing regularly are two ways you can avoid gum disease and keep your oral health in top shape!

Schedule An Appointment

If something doesn’t feel quite right in your body, it’s always a good idea to clear up any concerns with a medical or dental doctor. For more information about oral health care in relationship to your overall health and wellbeing, or to schedule your next appointment, call San Francisco dentist Dr. Kandar at (415) 523-9178 today!

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