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Buzz Feed
9 hours ago
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Dentists Are Sharing All The Things They Can Tell About A Patient Just By Looking Inside Their Mouth And The Responses Are Surprising
When you go to the dentist, you're likely focused on matters like cavities and gum health. But dental experts can detect a lot more from your exam. 'A lot about someone's overall health can be observed just by looking in their mouth,' Dr. Kami Hoss, a dentist and author of If Your Mouth Could Talk, told HuffPost. 'In fact, over 100 systemic conditions and many medications can have oral manifestations. This means that what happens in the mouth can often be a window into broader health issues, helping to identify problems before they escalate.' Because the mouth is considered the 'gateway' to the body, it can also be the origin of problems in many different bodily systems. The mouth's microbes 'can enter the bloodstream through bleeding gums or open root canals and travel to other parts of the body, causing infections or inflammation,' Hoss noted. That's why routine dental checkups are so important. 'A comprehensive oral examination can provide valuable insights into a person's overall health and lifestyle habits, helping dental professionals identify potential issues and provide appropriate care and recommendations,' said cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael J. Wei. So what exactly can a dentist infer about you from the state of your mouth? We asked some professionals to share what they've seen. If You Floss Regularly... Or Rarely 'Unfortunately, dentists can't be fooled into thinking you floss regularly if you floss just right before your visit,' said Dr. Erin Fraundorf, an orthodontist and founder of BOCA Orthodontic + Whitening Studio. 'Gum tissue that is not flossed regularly looks red, inflamed and may bleed.' She noted that healthy gums are pink and smooth with a 'knife-edge' instead of puffy. 'As soon as your dentist sees your mouth and the color and texture of your gums, they can tell you have gum disease,' Fraundorf said. 'Erosion and decay on teeth can reveal a lot about someone's diet, with high consumption of sugary foods and beverages typically leading to cavities, while acidic foods and drinks, like citrus and soda, can cause enamel erosion,' said cosmetic dentist Dr. Kevin Sands. Highly acidic and sugary foods and drinks can also contribute to gum disease. 'If you are a big tea or coffee drinker, you will more likely have dark stains,' Fraundorf added. People with diabetes often have inflamed gums. 'Imbalances in sugar may also result in a rapid change in the health of your gums, showing up as increased swelling, bleeding and sensitivity,' Fraundorf said. 'Diabetic patients have a higher prevalence of gum disease.' Additionally, 'fruity' breath can be a sign of uncontrolled diabetes, so patients should seek medical attention if they experience this phenomenon. 'Without glancing at your nails, a dentist may be able to detect if you bite your nails ― or bite on other items, like pen caps or bottle caps,' Fraundorf said, noting that the stress on your teeth can cause chipping and other wear and tear. Dentists can also tell if you suck your thumb or did a lot in the past (beyond early childhood). 'Thumb-sucking may significantly alter not only a patient's teeth but their jaws,' Fraundorf explained. 'These signs include protruding upper front teeth with spacing, tucked back lower front teeth with crowding, a narrow upper jaw and an anterior open bite ― a lack of vertical overlap between the upper and lower front teeth.' Similarly, tongue thrust can result in an anterior open bite, but generally both the upper and lower teeth will have protrusion and spacing, she added. 'Deficiencies in essential nutrients can impact the health of the teeth and gums,' Wei said. Dry mouth, sores and bleeding gums are common manifestations, as well as changes in the tongue. 'Being deficient in vitamins and minerals may result in many oral conditions, like increased infections, burning tongue syndrome, sore tongue, cracked lips, tissue sloughing, delayed healing, bone infections, and gums that bleed easily,' Fraundorf said. 'When patients are deficient in iron, their gum tissues can lose some of the red hues and turn pale pink or even white. Light pink, pale gums can be a sign of anemia.' If You're Right- Or Left-Handed 'It's pretty wild, but we can often tell if you're left- or right-handed ― or at least we can tell if you brush with your right or left hand,' Fraundorf said. Right-handed patients typically don't brush their upper right teeth as well as they do their left side. The reverse is true for lefties. 'This leaves the gums slightly more puffy and red in addition to more plaque retention on these teeth,' Fraundorf explained. Dentists can also see the effects of disordered eating in their patients. 'Patients with eating disorders, specifically bulimia, will typically show enamel erosion or breakdown of enamel,' Fraundorf said. 'Specifically, we see erosion almost exclusively on the tongue side of your teeth from the stomach acid that comes up into the oral cavity.' If You Have A Gastrointestinal Issue Instead of disordered eating, this kind of erosion might also indicate a GI problem. 'Persistent bad breath might indicate gastrointestinal issues such as GERD, where stomach acid damages teeth and soft tissues,' Hoss said. 'The mouth can also reveal early signs of certain gastrointestinal diseases. Crohn's disease can cause swelling of the gums and mouth ulcers before any intestinal symptoms appear. Oral manifestations like these can be critical for early diagnosis and treatment of serious conditions.' If You're Exhibiting Signs Of Certain Cancers 'The mouth can also reveal early signs of certain cancers,' Hoss said. 'For instance, signs of leukemia may present as gum overgrowth and bleeding. Oral manifestations like these can be critical for early diagnosis and treatment of serious conditions.' Oral cancer can also manifest in the mouth with visible oral lesions or growths. 'Signs of oral cancer include unexplained bleeding in the mouth, patches (red, white or spotted), changes in your bite, or areas in the mouth that are eroded, lumpy or swollen,' Fraundorf said. 'The patient should then visit an oral surgeon for a consultation and biopsy of any suspicious tissue.' If You're Pregnant 'Some women may develop a deep red lump on their gums called a pregnancy tumor or pyogenic granuloma ― a totally benign tumor that will resolve once pregnancy is over,' Fraundorf said. She noted that pregnancy also commonly leads to the development of gingivitis due to increased progesterone, which facilitates the growth of bacteria. If You Have An Autoimmune Disease 'Dentists are the first line of defense in detecting system diseases and nutrition deficiencies because some of these diseases and deficiencies have oral manifestations,' said Dr. Jarrett L. Manning, founder of JLM Dental Studio. 'This means the disease process may present as abnormal mouth lesions that dentists are trained to detect.' While dentists check for gum health, tooth conditions and overall mouth hygiene, Manning emphasized that any dental checkups are also important because 'any lesion, sore, or patch in the mouth can tell another story and give us insight to a deeper issue.' The list of potential deeper issues includes various autoimmune diseases and other inflammatory conditions. 'Red spots and sores may be signs of lupus and Crohn's disease, and white spots in the mouth may be linked to lichen planus,' Fraundorf said. 'These spots may be tender or painful and may lead to mouth ulcers.' 'Bad 'fishy' breath and chronic dry mouth may be signs of kidney problems,' Fraundorf said. She noted that fishy breath may also indicate liver failure. Your dental appointment might also lead to the discovery of bone issues. 'A dental examination with X-rays can reveal bone loss and may lead to an early diagnosis of osteoporosis ― a disease of the bones which results in bone loss and an increase in brittleness,' Fraundorf said. 'Clenching or grinding of teeth, also known as bruxism, can be a sign of stress or anxiety, which can have detrimental effects on oral health,' Fraundorf said. Dentists can spot this sort of excess wear on the biting surfaces of teeth. 'Teeth grinding and redness of gum tissue and the throat may also be signs of sleep apnea ― a serious condition which limits the amount of oxygen a person gets during sleep,' Fraundorf added. If You Have HIV 'You can see if someone has HIV by identifying specific lesions called Kaposi's sarcoma that are common in uncontrolled HIV cases and have a distinct visual appearance,' said Dr. Ilona Casellini, founder of Swiss Quality Smile. People with HIV may also experience chronic dry mouth, canker sores and hairy leukoplakia, which presents as white patches on the tongue. 'Oral yeast infections can be a symptom of HIV in young patients who seem to otherwise present as healthy,' Fraundorf noted. 'Lifestyle choices leave distinct signs in the mouth too,' Sands said. 'Smoking or using tobacco products can cause stained teeth, gum disease, and a higher risk of oral cancers.' Drug use can also have a noticeable impact on the teeth and other parts of the mouth. Maria Korneeva / Getty Images 'Alcoholics often have inflamed gums and breath that smells of alcohol,' Casellini noted. Alcohol tends to dry out the mouth, making people with drinking issues more susceptible to cavities. 'The presence of plaque, tartar, and gum inflammation often indicates a person's oral hygiene routine, suggesting inconsistent or insufficient oral care if these issues are present,' Sands said. He emphasized that maintaining oral health is crucial not just for a beautiful smile but also for overall well-being. Awareness and proactive care can significantly impact someone's quality of life. Examining the mouth might also reveal signs of mental impairment or decline, particularly for older patients. 'Patients with cognitive disorders such as dementia or Alzheimer's often exhibit poor oral hygiene,' Casellini noted. 'They might forget to brush or have lost manual dexterity.' HuffPost.
Buzz Feed
a day ago
- General
- Buzz Feed
5 Stages In A Dying Marriage Explained By Experts
When a marriage is in decline, it tends to follow a predictable pattern. Knowing what to look for can help you repair your relationship before it's too late. Becky Whetstone, an Arkansas marriage and family therapist and the author of the forthcoming book I (Think) I Want Out, has spent more than 20 years counseling couples. She wrote her Ph.D. dissertation at St. Mary's University in San Antonio on the stages of a deteriorating marriage. 'This is the most important thing couples could know,' Whetstone told HuffPost via email. '[It's] similar to understanding cancer symptoms, the stages of cancer and early detection.' While doing research for her dissertation, she came across the work of sociologist Diane Vaughan, the author of Uncoupling: Turning Points in Intimate Relationships. In her 1986 book, Vaughan delineated the various stages, or turning points, that individuals go through when ending a relationship. After interviewing more than 100 people about their breakups, Vaughan discovered that most splits followed a very similar trajectory. 'When I read it, I was like, 'Oh my gosh, why don't people know about this?'' Whetstone said. Then, Whetstone conducted her own in-depth interviews with a set of subjects, hoping to find some 'common patterns' in the dissolution of their relationships, she said. 'When I did my own research, interviewing 11 subjects for two hours apiece and asking them all the same exact questions, I wasn't thinking about Vaughan's stages at all,' she said. 'I was looking for common patterns in what my subjects told me and was open to anything. But, lo and behold, Vaughan's stages revealed themselves.' These stages are mostly experienced internally, occurring in the mind of the 'decider' (the individual who's initiating the breakup), Whetstone explained. Often, this person doesn't voice their relationship concerns to their partner until late in the process. 'Unfortunately, unhappy partners keep the extent of what is going on a secret from their spouse until it is almost too late,' Whetstone said. 'It's so important that partners stay in touch and let the other know when they are struggling.' Below are five stages of a dying marriage outlined by Whetstone. The first four align with some of Vaughan's findings, while the fifth is one that Whetstone discovered in her own research, she said. The first stage, known as the disillusionment phase, is when one person recognizes that they're unhappy in their relationship, but they decide to take a wait-and-see approach. 'They mull it over and say, 'You know, relationships have ups and downs, and I'll just see how this goes and see if my feelings change,'' Whetstone said. But as Vaughan told The Washington Post in a 1986 interview: 'When you keep secrets that have to do with the relationship ― things that make you unhappy, things that can be fixed ― a breach is begun. ... It widens the gap.' The second stage is the erosion phase. This is when one partner realizes that the unhappiness is not just going away and is serious enough that it could lead to divorce. Still, they dismiss the idea of splitting up for a number of reasons — because of kids, finances, reputation, religion, values or 'whatever it is they don't want to lose,' Whetstone said. 'The cracks begin to show,' she said. 'They may make sarcastic remarks to their spouse, complain, get an attitude, or roll their eyes, but whatever it is, it stays between them.' In other words, this person might make snide comments toward their spouse, but only behind closed doors — not in front of other people, Whetstone noted. The third stage is known as the detachment phase, in which a person pulls away from their partner emotionally and looks for things outside of the marriage to help them cope. That might mean investing time in a hobby, a workout regimen or even having an affair, Whetstone said. But this person is still not willing to end the relationship. 'So, they make a deal with themself: I can stay married if I find something outside the marriage and away from my partner that brings me satisfaction,' Whetstone explained. 'They are focusing more and more on their unhappiness, seeing every little negative thing and becoming more blind to the things they once enjoyed.' By this stage, the hostility starts to become apparent to folks outside of the relationship. 'The poisonous feelings seep out in front of others,' said Whetstone. At this point, a person's tolerance for their partner continues to dwindle and the marriage moves into the fourth stage, known as 'The Straw.' Whetstone described it as 'a day when their spouse says or does something that gives them sudden clarity that they can't be married to someone' who would do that thing. 'At this moment, they emotionally unplug, turn their back on the marriage and refuse to cooperate or go along, pretending they are happy,' she explained. The straw that breaks the camel's back might be something that's big, small or seemingly innocent, Whetstone said. But for the disgruntled spouse, everything has changed. 'They will either decide to end the relationship altogether, make a pronouncement of their thinking they want a divorce or emotionally disconnect,' Whetstone said. Rubberball/Mike Kemp / Getty Images In Whetstone's research, she uncovered a fifth stage, which she refers to as death of the marriage. 'Or at least death of what has been going on before, as the spouse will not go back to the way things were,' she said. At this point, divorce is likely, she said, 'but it is possible that a future with their partner can be found under the right circumstances.' The status quo, however, is 'forever off the table,' she added. How — And When — To Salvage The Relationship Whetstone advises couples to start counseling when they hit the erosion stage — the point when they recognize there are issues that won't resolve on their own. 'Letting the resentment pile up makes it exceedingly difficult to help them later,' she said. What gets in the way of early intervention? Too many people mistakenly believe that couples therapy is reserved for 'really bad, damaged marriages,' Whetstone said, when that's just not true. Small issues can snowball into much bigger and trickier ones if ignored. Northern California therapist Kurt Smith, who specializes in counseling men, said that when it comes to starting couples therapy, 'the sooner, the better.' 'Sadly, most wait until it's almost too late, and for some it is,' he told HuffPost. 'Often they finally go when they're close to calling a divorce lawyer — or already have.' That's why Smith recommends seeking counseling proactively rather than reactively. 'As soon as you start seeing signs of a potential problem you can't fix yourselves, go,' he said. 'At this stage it's much quicker, cheaper and has much better results.' The adage 'time fixes everything' doesn't apply to marriages on the rocks, Smith said. ''Let's just give it some time' is an avoidance, and sometimes a power play,' he continued. 'Don't accept it. In addition to time, you also have to add strategies and effort to the mix to bring about real change, especially change that lasts. Be smart and be willing to admit when you can't fix it yourself.' What if your partner won't go to marriage counseling? Then go without them, Smith said. 'Marriages can change even if only one person is trying,' he said. 'Ultimately, do you need both partners participating? Sure. But you can get started without them. And often when you do, they'll join you at some point.' HuffPost.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"Cosby Show" Star Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dead At 54 After Drowning On A Family Trip In Costa Rica
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the actor who famously played Theodore Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died at 54, according to reports on Monday. The star's death was first reported by TMZ. People later confirmed the report. HuffPost has not independently confirmed Warner's passing but has reached out to his team for verification. Warner was best known for playing the son of Bill Cosby's character in The Cosby Show sitcom from the 1980s before moving on to other TV gigs. Despite the many sexual misconduct allegations against Cosby, Warner expressed in 2023 that he was still 'proud of the legacy' the show built and the impact it had on 'first and foremost, Black culture.' Carly Koltes contributed to this report. This is a developing story. Please check back for article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity: Also in Celebrity:
Buzz Feed
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Cosby Show Star Malcolm-Jamal Warner Dead At 54: Reports
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, the actor who famously played Theodore Huxtable on The Cosby Show, has died at 54, according to reports on Monday. The star's death was first reported by TMZ. People later confirmed the report. HuffPost has not independently confirmed Warner's passing but has reached out to his team for verification.
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Trump once hosted party for young women only attended by Epstein: Report
US President Donald Trump reportedly hosted a party with "young women" that was only attended by disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, according to a report by The New York Times (NYT). The report comes days after the Wall Street Journal stated that Trump sent the child sex offender a provocative birthday note featuring a nude sketch of a woman along with a cryptic account was detailed in the NYT article published on Saturday, titled "Inside the Long Friendship Between Trump and Epstein."The article explained that the two men socialised in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida, for nearly 15 years before a falling out that occurred prior to Epstein's first arrest. The piece goes on to describe Trump hosting "a party at Mar-a-Lago for young women in a so-called calendar girl competition"; Epstein was the only other guest, the UK-based Independent reported. The party was held in to the NYT article, the party was organised by Florida businessman George Houraney."Houraney recalled being surprised that Epstein was the only other person on the guest list," the article states."I said, Donald, this is supposed to be a party with VIPs," Houraney told the NYT about the party in 2019. "You're telling me it's you and Epstein?" The Independent quoted Houraney, citing the NYT TRUMP FORCIBLY KISSED ME, SAYS JILL HARTHJill Harth, who was Houraney's girlfriend at the time, later accused Trump of forcibly kissing and fondling her, and preventing her from leaving on the night of the party, HuffPost reported, citing the NYT must be noted that Trump has previously admired the child sex offender. Trump once told a New York Magazine (in 2002) that Epstein was a "terrific guy"."I've known Jeff for 15 years. Terrific guy," New York-based news website, HuffPost, quoted Trump as saying. "He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it – Jeffrey enjoys his social life."The White House did not offer an immediate response when asked for comment, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the NYT that Trump had banned Epstein from his Mar-a-Lago club "for being a creep", according to the HuffPost to the New York Times, Trump stated in 2009 that he had banned Epstein from Mar-a-Lago after Epstein acted inappropriately toward the daughter of a club report emerged amid growing pressure on the US President to release all documents tied to the Epstein case, which he has dismissed as the "Jeffrey Epstein hoax".- EndsTrending Reel
