Almost everyone knows how important it is to see the family dentist on a regular basis for checkups and cleanings, but many don't realize that the dentist can sometimes recognize illness and even vitamin deficiencies during a dental examination. Here are some ways your dentist may find that you have a vitamin C deficiency during your oral exam.
Heavy Or Prolonged Gum Bleeding
During your appointment, your dentist will use dental instruments such as stainless steel probes. While many patients experience minor bleeding during a dental examination, it is usually very mild and stops quickly.
If you have a vitamin C deficiency, your gums may bleed heavily upon the slightest provocation and may be slow to stop. If your deficiency is severe, it may indicate the presence of scurvy, which can cause gum hemorrhaging. If your gums bleed profusely during your oral examination, or if they bleed when you chew your food, see your physician.
People with severe vitamin C deficiencies may also experience spontaneous gum bleeding. This means that the gums start bleeding out of nowhere or all of a sudden. Your physician can order a vitamin C blood test, and if your results are abnormally low, the doctor will recommend that you eat foods high in vitamin C such as oranges, strawberries, and green leafy vegetables, while taking a vitamin C supplement. Vitamin C deficiencies usually resolve quickly with the appropriate treatment.
Tissue Pallor
Vitamin C is essential for the absorption of iron, so if you're deficient in vitamin C, your body may be unable to absorb enough iron to prevent you from developing anemia. Signs of anemia may include shortness of breath, headache, fast heart rate, dizziness, and pallor.
Not only can pallor develop on your skin, but it can also make your gums, tongue, and the lining of your cheeks look light in color. If your dentist notices that the tissues inside your mouth look pale, he or she may suspect that you have anemia related to a vitamin C deficiency. Your physician can order an iron blood test, and if you are found to be anemic, the combination of iron and vitamin C-rich foods, along with iron supplements, may be recommended.
If your dentist notices that your gums bleed profusely or that your oral tissues look pale, he or she will refer you back to your family physician for further evaluation and treatment. When deficiencies are noticed and treated early on, complications such as severe weakness and bleeding problems are less likely to occur.
For more information, contact your family dentist.
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