4 Health Conditions You Didn't Know Might Affect Your Smile

Dentists and oral health professionals have spent years educating their patients about the health problems that poor dental health can cause. It's important to note, however, that the reverse is also true. Just as poor oral health can lead to illnesses throughout the body, some diseases can also impact your dental health. Here are four health conditions that can have a negative impact on your teeth.

Diabetes can impact your teeth by causing dry mouth. Your saliva constantly bathes your teeth, helping to keep them clean and reduce plaque buildup. If your diabetes dries your mouth, there is less saliva present to do this important job, leaving your teeth more vulnerable to decay.

People with diabetes also experience a higher incidence of thrush. This fungal infection causes white or red sores to appear in the mouth and is often quite painful.

Heartburn, more technically known as acid reflux, is incredibly uncomfortable. It can also cause tooth decay. During episodes of acid reflux, acid from your stomach climbs into your esophagus and the back of your throat where it causes a burning sensation. Although crucial for digesting food, your stomach acid is potent and can damage your esophagus. It also eats away at the enamel coating on your teeth, leaving them much more vulnerable to bacteria and decay.

In osteoporosis, your bones weaken and thin over time, becoming more susceptible to breaking. Your teeth are made of bone, and so is the portion of your jaw which holds your teeth in place. Osteoporosis can damage and weaken the teeth themselves or the jawbone around them. Your dentist can replace any teeth you lose to osteoporosis with dental implants, but only if you have enough remaining jawbone to hold the implants in place. Catching osteoporosis early and developing a treatment plan could prove crucial to saving your teeth.

Anorexia and bulimia both negatively impact your oral health by robbing your body of important nutrients it needs for oral care. Both disorders are extremely dangerous, but bulimia adds an extra threat. Because those suffering from bulimia vomit frequently, their teeth are frequently exposed to stomach acid. Bulimia, like acid reflux, can thereby remove the enamel coating on your teeth and leave them vulnerable.

Your oral health can affect your overall health and vice versa. To keep your teeth as healthy as possible, visit both your dentist and doctor regularly. If you do develop a health condition that could impact your oral health, make sure both your dentist and doctor are aware of it so they can work together to keep your smile bright and healthy.