You may have heard the phrase “the eyes are the window to the soul,” but your mouth is the window to your health. According to Four Corners Dental Group—a family dentistry office with locations in both Anchorage and Wasilla, AK—dentists perform exams to check for more than cavities. They are also looking for signs of cancer, diabetes, anemia, and many other dental conditions indicating your body’s health is in trouble.

5 Things Your Dentist Knows After a Dental Exam

1. You Don’t Actually Floss

While you might have thought you could fool your dentist by flossing right before your appointment, they know better. Flossing for the first time in months will leave your gums red, cut up, and possibly even bleeding when you visit your dentist.

2. You’re a Nail Biter

If you bite your nails, your teeth will instantly give you away. This habit puts constant stress on your teeth, causing unevenness. As you probably do most of your biting with your front teeth, both your bottom and top teeth in this area will probably be leveled off and flat due to regular contact with each other.

3. Your Bad Breath Is Abnormal

Usually, bad breath is a sign that you need to step up your oral care. However, there are certain smells that correlate with other health conditions. For instance, a fruity smell might indicate you have uncontrolled diabetes; whereas, a fishy odor could point to kidney or liver failure. Also, when bad breath is inexplicable, numerous potential conditions can cause this reaction, including gastroesophageal reflux disease, a lung abscess, or a tonsil stone.

4. You Have a Sinus Infection

Patients often schedule an appointment assuming they need a root canal; however, it's often a sinus infection. It’s easy to confuse the two since the sinus cavities are located in the same spot as the roots of the top teeth. However, there is a quick way to tell which one it is: bend over, and touch your toes to see if the pain worsens. If it does, you need to call your ENT, not your dentist.

5. You Need More Iron in Your Diet

If you aren’t getting enough iron, or maybe you’re anemic and unaware, the signs will show up in your mouth. Iron deficiency can cause severe sores in the corners of the mouth and, in some instances, a painful, swollen tongue that has lost its small papillae.  

Now, since you’re aware of how important your dental state is to your entire body, don’t put off your next dentist appointment. To schedule a cleaning and exam with Four Corners Dental Group, call the Anchorage office at (907) 258-3384 or the Wasilla office at (907) 376-2790. You can also visit the website to learn more about their affordable dental care services.