A number of dangerous diseases have been learned to be determined by the teeth

Keeping teeth healthy is extremely important. In addition to diseases characteristic of teeth and gums, specialists can determine the state of health in general by the oral cavity. Therefore, doctors say, you should not avoid dentists – one appointment can reveal the symptoms of several dangerous diseases.

Periodontitis (an infection that causes inflammation and pain in the gums) signals heart problems. Some studies show that heart disease, atherosclerosis (clogged arteries), and stroke are linked to inflammation caused by oral bacteria. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, this parallel has not yet been fully studied

Frequent tooth decay is not always caused by the consumption of large amounts of sugar or poor hygiene – the reason may lie in diabetes and high blood sugar, say doctors. When it's elevated, more sugar and starch interact with bacteria in the mouth to form plaque. It can lead to gum disease. Moreover, there are studies that indicate that gum disease negatively affects diabetes complications, glycemic control, and the development of type 2 diabetes.

Poor dental health puts people with kidney disease at risk. According to research, patients with chronic kidney disease along with severe gum disease had a 41% 10-year risk of death compared to 32% for patients with healthy gums.

Saliva plays an important role in the health of the oral cavity – it removes food particles from the teeth and gums, provides the teeth with minerals: calcium and phosphate. According to doctors, frequent dry mouth can be a sign of diabetes, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and even an autoimmune disease such as Sjögren's syndrome. It occurs when the immune system attacks its own healthy cells that form saliva and tears.

According to the US National Institutes of Health, HIV weakens the immune system and makes it harder to fight infections, so people with this virus are more susceptible to high risk of problems with teeth and gums. In particular, people with HIV and AIDS usually suffer from chronic dry mouth, gingivitis, loss of bone mass around the teeth, ulcers and white spots on the tongue and oral cavity.

Scientists believe that there is a connection between gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Trauma, possibly associated with a bacterial infection, can trigger the development of rheumatoid arthritis in genetically predisposed individuals. Experts have noted that gum disease is much worse in patients with rheumatoid arthritis than in other people.