We are committed to continuously improving access to our goods and services by individuals with disabilities. This website is currently being updated to enhance the usability and experience for persons with disabilities. If you are unable to use any aspect of this website because of a disability, please call 603.890.4004 for Salem or 978.358.8576 for Newburyport and we will provide you with prompt personalized assistance.

Artisan Dentistry's Blog

What a Dentist Can Tell by Looking in Your Mouth

Jun 19th, 2015

DentistMouth

When your dentist looks into your mouth, teeth are not the only things they see. In fact, your dentist can tell a great deal about your health by looking into your mouth. Many dentists call the mouth the window to the body, and rightfully so. Just by looking into your mouth, your dentist has the ability to diagnose you with a variety of illnesses.

There are many different things that a dentist can tell just by having you say “ahhh,” but here is a list of a few of them.

1. Pregnancy

When your dentist is examining your mouth he may come across red growths on the gums and between the teeth, which can be a sign of pregnancy. These growths are referred to as pregnancy tumors and only show up in 5% of women. These growths aren’t dangerous, but can indicate increased sensitivity. So, a trip to your dentist may result in a trip to your OBGYN.

2. Anemia

If your gums have lost that reddish hue and have become pink or even white, then you could be lacking iron. If your dentist takes a peek into your mouth and sees discoloration in your gums, it may tip them off that you have anemia.

3. Diabetes

While you might be unaware that you have diabetes, your dentist might know just by looking in your mouth. People with diabetes have an increased risk of developing abscesses. While healthy people can still get abscesses, it is a common side effect for patients with diabetes.

4. Autoimmune Diseases

If you have sore red spots in your mouth, you could have an autoimmune disease. Diseases like Lupus and Crohn’s disease can often manifest themselves as sore red spots in your mouth. Not only do these sores exhibit bodily health issues, they can also cause serious oral health issues. These sores can lead to mouth ulcers, which can be dangerous and painful, so if you have these sores, you should visit a dentist.

The next time you want to skip the dentist because your teeth look great and you don’t have any cavities, think again. By going to the dentist you afford yourself the opportunity to not just get an oral health opinion, but also an overall health opinion.

Warranty

Our 5 Year Warranty

Anyone can train to be a technician, but few have the talent to become an artist. That’s why Dr. Mathew is able to guarantee his cosmetic dentistry work for a full 5 years. If anything goes wrong with the work, Dr. Mathew will fix it free of charge, as long as you continue with your regular 6 month preventative care cleaning and check up for the duration of the warranty.

Treatment Room

Individualized
Treatment Rooms

Our individualized treatment rooms and operatories provide patients with maximum privacy and comfort. The treatment rooms were built specifically with your comfort in mind.

Schedule Appointment (Paginated)

  • Fill out the form below.
Choose Location

Salem, MA

Call Now

Newburyport, MA

Call Now

Here at Paul Mathew, D.D.S. we work diligently to protect our patients' privacy. Requesting an appointment via our Internet portal is considered part of what the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has identified as electronically protected healthcare information or ePHI. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are people or entities that may attempt to intercept the data you transmit to us. By checking the "I agree" box, and electronically making an appointment request, you acknowledge that you are making an appointment over the internet and that Paul Mathew, D.D.S. will keep this information confidential but cannot guarantee that others, outside of our practice, may illegally intercept this communication. By accepting these terms and conditions and sending this request via our Internet portal, you accept the inherent risk(s) associated with making this request for an appointment. If you do not accept the terms and conditions, you are always welcome to contact our office via telephone to schedule your appointment.

X

Here at Paul Mathew, D.D.S. we work diligently to protect our patients' privacy. Requesting an appointment via our Internet portal is considered part of what the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has identified as electronically protected healthcare information or ePHI. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are people or entities that may attempt to intercept the data you transmit to us. By checking the "I agree" box, and electronically making an appointment request, you acknowledge that you are making an appointment over the internet and that Paul Mathew, D.D.S. will keep this information confidential but cannot guarantee that others, outside of our practice, may illegally intercept this communication. By accepting these terms and conditions and sending this request via our Internet portal, you accept the inherent risk(s) associated with making this request for an appointment. If you do not accept the terms and conditions, you are always welcome to contact our office via telephone to schedule your appointment.

X

The information presented here is not intended or implied to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should be used for informational purposes only.