Waco, Texas You may find it hard to utter a word in the dentist's chair, but you'd be surprised what your mouth is telling him about you.

Dr. John Scott, a dentist in Waco, Texas, says every little poke, prod and turn of the mirror during a dental exam can reveal to him something about a patient's general health.

Swollen gums can be related to leukemia. Mouth sores can signal anything from a simple vitamin deficiency to oral cancer.

The connection between mouth health and overall well-being is so strong that dentists at times can help identify a health problem before the patient is even aware of it.

A study a few years ago in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association investigated ties between heart disease and gum disease. WebMD reported that the study showed pericoronitis, a gum infection around the molars, could be a strong predictor of heart disease.

What else can your dentist see in your mouth?

Oral cancer

Oral cancer, something dentists regularly screen for, can occur under the tongue, on the floor of the mouth and on the sides of the tongue. Because the sores are usually painless, the dentist may be the first to notice them, said Dr. Dale Williams, a dentist in Hewitt, Texas. Visible signs of HIV/AIDS also may make their first appearance in the form of mouth sores.

Grinding and headaches

Dentists also may be able to diagnose the cause of some headaches: They're usually the first to notice when teeth are wearing down because of grinding.

"Some people will have headaches during the day and not know it's related to grinding their teeth at night," Scott said. He said one in four people grind their teeth in their sleep.

If the problem is left untreated, teeth-grinders also may experience pain in their neck and shoulders. Grinding is treatable, Scott said, but the cause is a mystery.

Dry mouth

Scott also checks for mouth dryness when he examines a patient.

"I always do a simple check — the (dental) mirror should not stick to their cheek," he said.

Without adequate saliva to act as a natural barrier against decay, a dry mouth may begin to develop cavities along the gumline.

Many medications can cause a dry mouth, Scott said, but there are also afflictions that are characterized by dry mouth, such as Sjogren's syndrome, an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own moisture-producing glands.

Allergies

Williams said one of the more common problems he sees is directly related to breathing habits and allergies. He usually can tell which children have allergies or restricted airways as soon as he gets them in his chair and may pick up on it even before the parents have. Williams said mouth-breathing shows which of his patients have respiratory problems.

Signs of mouth-breathing include redness around the gums of the upper-front teeth. The habit also will create a narrow palate in the top of the mouth. Williams said children who are mouth-breathers often will have dark circles under their eyes as well.

"When you breathe through your mouth, you don't get the proper blood oxygen," he said. "When we see a child like that, we need to get them to an (ear, nose and throat doctor)."

Vitamin deficiency

Another condition Williams identifies often during oral exams is vitamin deficiency, in the form of sores in the corners of the mouth.

"I see that all the time, and I tell people, 'You need a multivitamin or get going on some vitamin C,' " he said.

On the flip side, taking care of your teeth and gums can help your overall health as well, Williams added.

The mouth is full of bacteria, and whenever a problem in the mouth causes bleeding, that bacteria gets introduced into the bloodstream.

"These bacteria can set up housekeeping in places you don't like for them to, like in the heart," he said.

Williams said he wouldn't expect the public to be aware of all the connections between the mouth and overall health — but that is precisely why it's important to make visits to the dentist a part of your preventive health-care regimen.

Root canal takes bite out of its old bad rep

By Virginia Anderson, Cox News Service

Atlanta

In a culture obsessed with image, it's only natural that someone with a product to sell or a cause to celebrate wants to put the best possible foot forward.

Or, in this case, the best tooth forward.

In an effort to change the reputation of the much maligned root canal, the American Association of Endodontists has released results of a study that show that Americans wrongly think root canals are painful.

Are they kidding?

The AAE suggests that the root canal is actually a wonderful way to not only relieve — yes, that's right, they said relieve — pain but also to save a natural tooth.

Root canals, in which a dentist makes a small opening into an inflamed or infected tooth and cleans and disinfects it, are saviors of 17 million natural teeth a year, the AAE said.

"We have made massive strides in the past 15, 20 years," said Dr. Sandra Madison, an AAE spokeswoman and past president of the group, based in Asheville, N.C.

Madison acknowledged how the procedure provokes anxiety in most patients. But, trust her — that anxiety is needless, she said.

Madison said the advent of good local anesthetics and good dental techniques — such as improved magnification — in recent years has helped make the procedure nearly painless.

Really?

Yes, Atlanta resident Paula Lousteau said.

In fact, a root canal about four years ago was a great relief to her.

"By far, the pain I was in before was worse," said Lousteau, 31. "It was the most painful thing I'd ever had."

In contrast, she said, the root canal was no worse than getting a cavity filled.

Madison wholeheartedly agrees, saying people worry needlessly.

"They've heard horror stories that just aren't true," she said. "Nine out of 10 are pleased with the experience."