With one look inside the mouth it can reveal bacteria everywhere. Bad bacteria can collect in gum pockets that can cause swelling, bleeding and bone loss which can cause teeth to loosen and fall out. Over 90% of the time bad breath (halitosis) emanates from bacteria living in these gum pockets, under dentures and on the surface of the tongue.
Your mouth can harbor up to 500 species of bacteria, if you have gum disease. Bacteria can and will enter small blood vessels, then travel to other parts of your body and release toxins and trigger inflammatory chemicals that attack arteries and organs. Gum disease and tooth loss is now considered a sign for things to come such as coronary artery disease, infective endocarditis, bacterial pneumonia, diabetes, kidney disease and stroke.
Our bad breath is not only unpleasant to people close to you, but it may also be a clue to medical conditions such as oral cancers, lung cancer, certain leukemias and dry mouth syndromes such as Sjogren's syndrome can cause bacterial overgrowth that contribute to bad breath. And sometimes a systemic disease produces distinct chemical odors.
A systemic disease is one that affects a number of organs and tissues, or affects the body as a whole. Although most medical conditions will eventually involve multiple organs in advanced stage. Example: Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, diseases where multiple organ involvement is at presentation or in early stage are considered above.
Dr. Oz Lists These Breath Odors To Watch Out For
Sweet or fruity odor may indicate uncontrolled diabetes
Mousy ammonia odor may indicate liver disease
Urine-like fishy odor may indicate chronic kidney failure
And fecal odor may indicate intestinal blockage.
To find out if you have foul-smelling breath, ask a truthful friend, or lick your hand and smell the saliva.
Dr .Oz says there are 3 major warning signs in your mouth, that changes in the tongue can be a tip-off to disease.
A tongue that is pale, smooth, flattened and sometimes tender can point to iron or vitamin B12 deficiency, a common blood disorder, iron-deficiency anemia. People with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis may notice tiny ulcers on the tongue.
If the tongue looks like a geographic map with areas of dark and light it may indicate an autoimmune disorder such as psoriasis or discoid lupus erythematosus.
Recurrent episodes of white patches indicate thrush, an overgrowth of the yeast Candida, which may indicate diabetes.
A Strawberry red swollen tongue with a white coating and big red bumps is a symptom of Kawasaki disease.
Hairline cracks in the teeth can indicate tooth-grinding, the sleep disorder bruxism or mental stress.
People with bulimia have enamel loss on their front teeth from the assault of stomach acid from repeated vomiting.
Keeping up with a good program of oral hygiene and tending to dental and gum problems before they worsen is key to keeping mouths healthy.
Electric toothbrushes, vibrating gum massagers and dental water jets can help. Routine dental visits are crucial, especially if you are planning to become pregnant or are facing a course of chemotherapy, which can reduce immunity against oral bacteria and cause mouth sores.
Dr. Oz's Help For Halitosis, Gums And Tips For Tooth Care
Brush in the morning, at night and after meals with a soft toothbrush or African chew stick
Use a tongue scraper along the length of the tongue to remove odor-causing bacteria
Use an antiseptic mouth rinse
Floss between teeth and inside the crease
Keep well hydrated and avoid mouth breathing
Don't smoke or be near someone smoking
Try chewing on neem leaves, green cardamom, cloves, parsley, guava peels and gum mastic for breath control
And of course visit your dentist regularly.
3 Major Warning Signs In Your Mouth - Daily Health Web!
