Dr. Kami Hoss

You may not know it, but a simple dental checkup may reveal more about your health than you realize. For one, dentists not only examine the mouth to look for cavities and gum disease but to also detect the onset of more serious issues like oral cancer and diabetes, explains orthodontics professional Dr. Kami Hoss of the Howard Healthcare Academy. Hereunder are other conditions our dentists can detect while looking at our mouths. Image source: corsodyl.co.uk Anemia : Signs that a patient may have anemia include a tongue that has lost its normal, coarse texture. If it’s too smooth-looking, it may mean the person has anemia. Another tell-tale sign is a pale, light-pink mouth coloration. Stress : If a person has chipped teeth resulting from the condition called bruxism (in which a person grinds his teeth, often while sleeping), it is a sure sign of stress. Dr. Hoss advises using a custom-made night guard to deal with bruxism. But doing something about undue stress is the be...

Keeping one’s teeth clean goes beyond just brushing. For fresh-smelling breath and strong teeth, flossing and gargling with mouthwash should be part of your daily oral care routine. However, some are still not sold with the idea of having to rinse with mouthwash as they believe it has dire consequences on one’s health. Image source: oralb.co.uk Alcohol-based mouth rinse products are great for getting rid of germs. Rinsing with alcohol-based mouthwash can prevent plaque and gingivitis. Tartar buildup can be avoided with the use of mouthwash. Although, dental practitioners advise individuals of health risks that may be associated with ingesting alcohol. Another advantage of gargling with mouthwash is whiter teeth, notes Dr. Kami Hoss. Certain mouthwashes though contain reduced concentrations of hydrogen peroxide causing very little bleaching and damage to the gums. You can reap the benefits of rinsing with mouthwash if you brush twice daily and floss regularly. A comp...