The Dentist as a Member of Your Healthcare Team

Sure your dentist asks about medications and health conditions, but isn’t that just so they can have it for their records? Dentists just focus on teeth and gums, right?

Wrong. “For many patients a trip to the dentist happens much more frequently than a trip to the doctor,” says Dr. Denine Rice from her Riverside Periodontal Practice. “Which is why we check your blood pressure regularly. We are also able to see a lot in your mouth.” In fact, according to the American Dental Association, Your mouth is a windowinto the health of your body. (MouthHealthy.org)

“Many health issues show up first in the mouth. They may be easy for you to dismiss, but they are evident to us.” Your mouth can show signs of nutritional deficiencies, general infections, systemic diseases – those that affect the entire body - and other oral health problems.

For example: Bad breath that can’t be eliminated by brushing and flossing can be a sign of not only periodontal disease, but also of diabetes. Radiographs show what is happening to teeth, but also might show evidence of bone loss or the first signs of osteoporosis. “There are also oral symptoms for leukemia, pancreatic cancer and auto-immune diseases that your dentist can spot,” Dr. Rice adds. 

So its important to find a dentist you can trust, because it’s not just about your teeth and mouth, it’s about your overall well-being.