Anemia is when your body is not making enough healthy red blood cells, meaning your body’s organs aren’t getting a sufficient amount of oxygen. This can leave you feeling highly fatigued, and it can also lead to weakness, shortness of breath, and dizziness. On top of all of that, the condition can even have a negative impact on your smile. Your preventive dentist is here to explain how anemia can affect your oral health and what you can do about it.
What Types of Anemia Are There?
It’s important to note that anemia can have different causes, which can influence the exact way that the condition affects the mouth. The most common type of anemia is iron deficiency anemia. The bone marrow uses iron to create red blood cells; consequently, a lack of iron will lead to a lower red blood cell count.
Sometimes the problem might be that you aren’t consuming enough of the vitamins required for healthy red blood cells, including vitamin B-12, folate, and vitamin C. This is known as vitamin deficiency anemia. You could also potentially suffer from pernicious anemia, which means that your body has trouble absorbing vitamin B-12.
How Can Anemia Affect Your Mouth?
If your anemia is due to a lack of iron, it could make the tissues in your mouth appear unusually pale. On top of that, your tongue may become inflamed and tender. Furthermore, since iron plays an important role in the body’s immune response, a lack of it could significantly increase your risk of suffering from gum disease.
Vitamin deficiency anemia can lead to the appearance of ulcers in the mouth. It may also result in a burning sensation of the tongue, and it could even cause problems with your sense of taste.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Smile From Anemia?
It’s important to have your anemia properly treated in order to keep your smile safe from the worst of its effects. The right kind of treatment can vary depending on the root cause of the anemia. If the issue is a lack of iron or a certain vitamin, it typically helps to change your diet or start taking supplements.
You should also talk to your dentist to see if they have any recommendations for keeping your mouth healthy. Since anemia can make you more likely to suffer from gum disease, your dentist may suggest using an antimicrobial rinse or taking an antibiotic drug; this will help combat the harmful bacteria that can cause gum infections.
Remember, as soon as you have any reason to think you might have anemia, you should set up an appointment with your regular physician. The sooner you can figure out what’s causing the problem, the sooner you can deal with it and protect your oral health.
About the Author
Dr. Walter McGinn has more than 40 years of dental experience. He’s a proud graduate of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and he currently holds membership with the Connecticut State Dental Association. He offers a variety of services to help protect his patients from gum disease and other oral health threats. To schedule a consultation with Dr. McGinn at Quiet Corner Dental in Putnam, visit his website or call (860) 928-3723.