The next time your teeth or gums are giving you trouble, make sure to pay a visit to your dentist, as oral health problems can be indicators of general health issues. “When you look at the teeth, the gingiva and the surrounding tissues in the mouth, you can find out information about structures not close to the mouth,” says Mahvash Navazesh, D.M.D., associate professor and chair of the division of diagnostic sciences at the USC School of Dentistry. “It can give the practitioner a wealth of information.” Poor oral health has been linked to heart, lung and kidney diseases, as well as diabetes and autoimmune deficiencies.
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