This is What Your Teeth Can Reveal about Your Overall Health

So, if you have diabetes or cardiovascular disease, stay on top of your oral health through regular cleanings, brushing, and flossing. It’s possible that bacteria can get under inflamed gums and aggravate these diseases further, Rankin noted.

Just as with keeping any area of your body healthy, it’s best to keep tabs on what might not feel right and stay curious about what is happening in the mouth. That includes never neglecting any “pain, swelling, bleeding gums, broken or loose teeth, or enamel erosion,” Rankin explained.

“If the dentist goes in there and sees this, he or she has to question [the patient],” he said. “But the patient is really the first line of defense.” Take care of your smile ― and the rest of you.