KARIBU KITCHENIt is well known that what goes on in your mouth can influence your health.
For instance, poor oral hygiene is known to contribute to cardiovascular disease.
But problems in your mouth can also indicate wider health issues, including some serious conditions.
We've complied a list of conditions and the associated signs you should watch out for.
Stress
Do you wake up with a sore jaw? This may be the case if grind your teeth during sleep. You can tell for sure if the surface of your teeth has been ground flat.
If this is the case, the teeth grinding may suggest you are stressed, which calls for you to address the underlying causes of your stress.
To help with teeth grinding, you can get a mouth-guard, which you wear overnight and which keeps your teeth apart.
Acid reflux
Are your teeth brittle and discoloured? If so, this may be caused by acid reflux reaching your mouth, where it damages teeth enamel.
Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, is caused by the malfunctioning of the barrier between your oesophagus and your stomach, which allows acid from your stomach to reach all the way up to your mouth.
If you have symptoms of acid reflux, or heartburn, consult your doctor. There are lifestyle changes, as well as prescription and over the counter medications, that will help you manage the condition.
Diabetes
Is your mouth always dry, despite the fact you're drinking plenty of water? Are you thirsty all the time, and have to use the loo often?
If this is the case, and you are not a smoker, or are taking medication where mouth dryness is a side effect, you should see a doctor, who will examine you for diabetes.
A constantly dry mouth could also suggest you have a condition called Sjogren's syndrome, which is an autoimmune disorder that undermines the working of moisture producing glands and affects the entire body.
Oral cancer
Do you have any open mouth sores that linger for weeks? If so, they may be related to something far more malicious than an infection: oral cancer.
If the sore has white or red borders you should get your doctor to make a visual inspection. You may not have any other symptoms or pain, except a sore that does not go away.
Do not underestimate the danger posed by a sore - the sooner oral cancer is detected, the greater the chances of being cured.
