Everyone wants to have a beautiful smile. Typically, taking care of your dental hygiene is enough to guarantee that. In some cases, however, issues with your teeth can be a sign that you need to see the doctor about an underlying condition. Let’s look at 10 times your teeth tell you something important about your health.
10 Times To Pay Attention To Your Teeth
1. They’re Wiggling
If your teeth are moving around more than normal, it could be a sign that the structures that are holding them in place are getting weaker. This could be a sign of osteoporosis, a condition where hormonal changes result in bone loss. You may also notice that your teeth break or crack more easily. Anemia can also make your teeth feel looser because the blood flow to your gums is less than ideal.
2. They Appear Thinner
As osteoporosis affects bone density, you may notice that your teeth look thinner or change in shape. That’s because bone loss is causing them to thin. In this case, you need to see a doctor quickly before you start to lose teeth.
3. They’re Getting Shorter
This might be a sign that you’re grinding your teeth and it’s likely that you’re not aware that it’s happening. In fact, many people grind their teeth when they’re asleep. If this is happening, it could be an indication that you’re dealing with sleep apnea. This sleep disorder disrupts your rest and can lead to other serious conditions such as heart disease.
4. They’re Decaying
Tooth decay is likely if you’re not taking good care of your teeth. However, if you’re seeing decay or infection while practicing proper dental hygiene, you may be dealing with diabetes, kidney disease, or anemia. Both of these conditions cause poor circulation, which can affect how well your body handles microbial growth in the mouth.
5. They’re Damaged
Damaged teeth can have a combination of cracks, erosion, and thinning. Aside from the conditions that have already been listed, you may experience damaged teeth if you have a digestive disorder. While most of the symptoms associated with these disorders affect the stomach, some people see changes in their mouth and teeth as well.
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6. They’re Falling Out
Unless you’ve damaged your teeth in some way, it’s not typical to lose multiple teeth easily. If this is happening to you, it could be a sign that you’re dealing with kidney disease or osteoporosis.
7. They’re Discolored
It’s true that certain lifestyle habits like smoking can discolor your teeth. However, acid reflux and other conditions that expose your teeth to stomach acid can have the same effect.
8. They’re Hurting
It’s not normal to feel pain if nothing’s wrong with your teeth. One condition that can cause pain while you’re eating is