What Your Mouth Can Reveal About Your Health

You let your mouth “do the talking” for you all the time, but is it saying more than you think? How your tongue, teeth and gums look and smell is a key indicator of health, especially if something is wrong. Read on to learn what your mouth might be telling you about your overall health.

Gums and Hormones

There are hormone receptors embedded in the gum tissue that reacts when something changes. For women, bleeding gums might indicate menopause. It’s a problem common among women expecting a baby, too.

The Connection Between Gum Disease and Diabetes

Bleeding gums can also be a sign of undiagnosed diabetes. People who have problems controlling their blood sugar have a higher risk of developing gum disease. Elevated blood sugar levels work to destroy gum tissue. If you brush regularly and floss yet still have this problem, then talk to your doctor about diabetes screening, especially if you have other symptoms like extreme thirst, frequent trips to the restroom, or sores that are slow to heal.

Pale Gums and Anemia

Pale gums may be your body’s way of saying it isn’t getting enough oxygen in the blood. When you have anemia, your red blood cell count is low or the cells do not have enough hemoglobin – the element in blood that carries oxygen. If you are anemic, you may notice your gums become pale and sore. Your tongue may also feel swollen or appear smooth.

Bad Breath

The medical field calls this “halitosis,” and it can have many causes beyond garlic for lunch. If you practice good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly, then that bad breath is probably a sign of a bacterial infection in your mouth, nose or throat. Certain bacteria produce an odor. Problem sites can include:

• Tonsils – Tonsils can get small stones in them that become covered with bacteria.
• Sinuses – Especially if you have chronic sinus problems
• Teeth – The infection might be in a tooth or part of your gum, so a visit to the dentist is a good idea. If you have had recent gum surgery, there may be an infection at the incision site, as well.

White Spots on Your Tongue

A healthy tongue doesn’t have white spots on it, so this automatically indicates a problem. The most likely cause is an infection called oral thrush. It is common for individuals with weakened immune systems, including infants, seniors, people with HIV, and anyone undergoing cancer treatment. This condition can also be related to medication such as oral steroids or antibiotics.

The white patches you see may actually be excess cells — leukoplakia is a condition that causes an overgrowth of cells on the tongue. While the patches themselves are not dangerous, their appearance may be a precursor to oral cancer, especially if you smoke.

Red Tongue

Certain vitamin deficiencies can cause your tongue to turn “tomato red.” Specifically, if you are not getting enough folic acid and vitamin B-12, you might notice a change in color.

If your tongue looks more like a strawberry than a tomato and you have a fever, then you want to seek medical attention to see if you need antibiotics for scarlet fever. Note: If the strawberry tongue and fever appears in a child under the age of five, get medical help immediately to rule out Kawasaki syndrome.

If you are concerned about how your mouth looks or your breath smells, start by evaluating your dental hygiene. If you are still worried, visit your dentist, primary care physician, or other medical professional for a clinical diagnosis.