Some Common Diseases That Cause Tooth Decay

Tooth decay occurs when your tooth’s enamel is damaged or destroyed. And since the mouth is a window to the whole body, it often gives warning signs that there’s something wrong going on. This guide addresses some of the diseases that often cause tooth decay. If you suffer from any of these conditions, make sure to discuss them with your emergency dentist in Houston, TX, at your next appointment. 

Diabetes is perhaps the most significant cause of tooth decay. No matter if you have type I or type II diabetes, your blood sugar levels are elevated due to lowered insulin levels. This affects many parts of your body, including your teeth.

Dry mouth is among the most common symptoms of diabetes, which cause a lack of saliva. On the other hand, saliva helps protect your teeth against the bacteria responsible for tooth decay. So, if you don’t have enough saliva, your teeth become more prone to developing cavities.

As tooth decay worsens, the risk for developing gum disease also increases. The gum disease, in turn, causes blood sugar levels to rise. Thus, it’s a vicious cycle that needs to be addressed quickly.

Autoimmune conditions are a family of problems that make the body attack its own parts. This includes everything from major organ systems, like the liver or kidney, to smaller systems like salivary glands. Many such diseases also affect your mouth. But the primary one that’s dependent on oral health is Sjogren’s syndrome. This disease directly affects the salivary gland. It reduces the amount of saliva your mouth produces. This has the same effects as described earlier with diabetes.

People with Sjogren’s syndrome are advised to visit the dentist more frequently to keep tabs on tooth decay.

Anorexia and bulimia are both severe eating disorders. They occur in people who have an extreme fear of getting overweight. But both of these conditions can affect your teeth. This is because the body isn’t getting enough minerals, proteins, vitamins, and other nutrients necessary to prevent tooth decay and maintain good oral health.

People with anorexia tend to eat sugary, salty, and unhealthy foods that are bad for their oral health. Likewise, a person with bulimia may binge eat and then throw it up. When this happens, the acids that break down the food eat away at the tooth enamel. This leads to tooth decay over time.

These are a few of the most common diseases that can cause tooth decay. But the connections between your body and mouth aren’t always apparent. So it’s important to share your medical history with the dentist. For this reason, we encourage you to visit Smile Time Dental. Our team will work with you to construct a treatment plan with a full-body approach. So, don’t wait if you have any of these diseases. Get it treated before it worsens your oral health.