Health conditions and your teeth
Some conditions and treatments can affect your gums, your saliva or how easily you can clean your teeth. Tell your dentist about them, keep up check-ups, and ask your GP or specialist team about medical questions.
On this page
Many health conditions, and the treatments for them, reach as far as the mouth. Some change how your gums react, some dry the mouth, and some make cleaning your teeth harder.
What helps whatever your condition
- Tell your dentist about your condition and any treatment you are having. Cancer Research UK asks for this before any dental work if you have had, or are about to have, cancer treatment, and the Oral Health Foundation asks the same of anyone who is pregnant.
- Keep going to check-ups, even when nothing hurts. Regular check-ups are advised whether or not you have problems, and the NHS suggests seeing a dentist and a dental hygienist regularly, especially if you are pregnant or have type 2 diabetes. Our guide to diabetes and your mouth covers diabetes in more detail.
- Take medical questions to your GP, pharmacist or specialist team. The NHS says not to stop a prescribed medicine without medical advice, even if you think it might be causing a dry mouth.
Pregnancy
Hormone changes in pregnancy can make gums react more strongly to plaque, according to the Oral Health Foundation. You might notice red, swollen or tender gums that bleed when you brush, and if this is not managed it can develop into more serious gum disease.
Serious gum disease and some pregnancy complications have been linked, though the charity points out this does not mean gum disease directly causes them, and scientists are still studying it.
Routine dental care, including gum treatment and professional cleaning, is safe in pregnancy, the charity adds, and so is a local anaesthetic for dental treatment. Tell your dental team that you are pregnant and how far along you are. Tell your dentist or midwife if your gums bleed often.
The NHS says check-ups and treatment from a dentist are free while you are pregnant and for 1 year after the birth. Your midwife or GP can tell you about a maternity exemption certificate. That is NHS dental care. Our practices are private and are not currently taking on NHS patients, so for free dental care in pregnancy you would need an NHS dental practice.
Heart conditions and endocarditis
Infective endocarditis, often just called endocarditis, is an infection of the lining inside the heart. The NHS calls it rare but serious. Bacteria or fungus usually gets into the blood through the mouth or skin and travels to the heart, for example during a dental procedure or through a cut or graze. The risk is higher for people with heart valve disease or an artificial valve, some congenital heart conditions, a heart transplant or earlier endocarditis, among others.
For people at higher risk, the NHS advises looking after your teeth and gums and having regular dental check-ups. It adds that you may be advised to speak to a doctor before dental procedures. If you have a heart condition, tell your dentist, and ask your heart team or GP whether anything extra applies to you.
Whether you need antibiotics before dental treatment is a decision for you, your dentist and your heart team, because UK dental guidance treats people at high risk differently.
Cancer treatment
The cells lining your mouth are very sensitive to chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other cancer treatments, according to Cancer Research UK. They can leave the lining sore and inflamed, and cause ulcers. Ulcers can become infected, and thrush is a common mouth infection during treatment. Infection is more serious when you are having cancer treatment, the charity says, and needs treating quickly. White patches in the mouth, or a mouth that is very red and sore, can be signs of thrush, so tell your care team promptly. Radiotherapy to the head and neck can dry the mouth by affecting the salivary glands, and radiotherapy to the mouth raises the risk of tooth decay.
For that reason, if you are having radiotherapy to your mouth, your radiotherapy specialist may arrange a dental appointment first. In some cases unhealthy teeth may need to be taken out before treatment starts. Fluoride treatment before radiotherapy may also help protect your teeth, the charity suggests, which is a conversation for your care team and dentist. Rarely, some cancer treatments, including radiotherapy to the head and neck, can damage the jawbone. If yours might, your doctor will tell you to see your dentist before treatment starts.
If your mouth or gums become very sore, tell your care team straight away. You are not making a fuss, and there are treatments that help. If you are unsure which mouth-care products suit you, ask them too.
Dry mouth and conditions that cause it
You are more likely to get tooth decay if you have a dry mouth, the NHS says. A dry mouth that does not go away can sometimes be caused by a condition such as diabetes or Sjögren’s syndrome. Some medicines can dry the mouth too. Check the leaflet that comes with your medicine to see if dry mouth is a side effect. Our guide to dry mouth covers the causes and what helps.
If you think a prescribed medicine is the cause, see your GP rather than stopping or changing it yourself. A pharmacist can suggest products to ease the dryness in the meantime.
Acid reflux and vomiting
Stomach acid can wear teeth. Government guidance for dental teams links tooth wear with acid from the stomach, which can come from reflux, vomiting and eating disorders. Where reflux is behind it, the guidance says to seek medical advice and support to control the reflux. If you have reflux or vomit often, tell your dentist and ask your GP about the cause.
If you are sick often, for example with long-lasting pregnancy sickness or an eating disorder, rinse your mouth with water after vomiting and do not brush straight away. Government guidance for dentists and the Oral Health Foundation both say this. Our guide to looking after your mouth when unwell goes into brushing after vomiting.
Eating disorders
Eating disorders are serious health conditions that can affect anyone, at any age. They can also affect the teeth, gums and mouth, for example through enamel erosion, sensitive teeth, a dry mouth or swollen salivary glands, according to the Oral Health Foundation.
You do not have to tell your dentist. The charity says it can help. Dentists know what acid damage looks like, and if they know what is happening, they can look after your teeth, recommend suitable products and plan any treatment carefully. Dental teams are there to support you, not to judge you. Support is also available through healthcare professionals such as your GP, and through specialist organisations.
Dementia
As dementia progresses, the Alzheimer’s Society says, a person may forget their usual mouth-care routine or struggle to do tasks in the right order. They may have trouble holding a toothbrush, find it hard to accept dental treatment, or forget appointments. People generally need more help with mouth care as symptoms get worse. If you care for someone and are worried about their mouth, the charity suggests speaking to a dentist.
In the later stages a person may not be able to tell you they have toothache. Signs to watch for include refusing food, touching the face or mouth often, a swollen face, restlessness and disturbed sleep. These should not be put down to dementia alone, the charity says, because they could mean the person is in pain. A swollen face or jaw can mean a dental abscess, which needs urgent treatment from a dentist: see the urgent box below.
When to see a dentist or your doctor
Some of these go to a dentist first and some to a GP or your care team.
- your gums bleed when you brush or eat hard food, or they are sore and swollen (dentist)
- you have gum disease along with other symptoms, such as very sore and swollen gums, loose teeth, ulcers or red patches in your mouth, or a lump in your mouth or on your lip: the NHS says to ask for an urgent dentist appointment
- you are having cancer treatment and your mouth or gums are very sore (tell your care team straight away)
- your mouth is still dry after a few weeks of home or pharmacy treatments, or you think a prescribed medicine is drying it (see a GP)
- you have reflux or vomit often: tell your dentist, and ask your GP about the cause
- someone with dementia refuses food or touches their face or mouth often (arrange a dentist visit)
If you cannot get an emergency dental appointment, the NHS says to call 111.
- A swollen face or jaw can be a sign of a dental abscess, which needs urgent treatment from a dentist. The NHS says to ask for an urgent dentist appointment or get help from NHS 111 if you think you or someone you care for has one. Do not go to a GP surgery, as they cannot give dental treatment. Call 999 or go to A&E if you or they find it hard to breathe, speak or swallow, have a swollen or painful eye, or have a lot of swelling in the mouth. Call 999 too if it is hard to open the mouth.
- The NHS says to get help from NHS 111 if you have symptoms of endocarditis. They include a high temperature or feeling hot, cold or shivery, headaches, feeling very tired, joint or muscle pain, night sweats, breathlessness, and losing your appetite or weight without trying.
- Call 999 if you or someone with you has a drooping face, weakness or numbness in one arm or down one side, cannot fully lift both arms, has slurred or confused speech or trouble finding words, or has blurred vision or loss of sight in one or both eyes. The NHS says these can be signs of a stroke, which can be a complication of endocarditis.
What we would do
Whatever your condition, the first step is a new patient exam. That includes an examination of your teeth, gums and soft tissues, an oral cancer screening and small X-rays where needed. Please tell us about any health condition or treatment you are having, so your dentist can take it into account, and we will explain any options in plain language.
A dental hygiene appointment removes plaque and tartar and includes advice on brushing and flossing, which matters when gums are sensitive. The conditions themselves, and your medicines, stay with your GP, pharmacist or specialist team.
Tell us about your health when you book a check-up, so your dentist can take it into account.
Want us to take a look?
Book an appointment at whichever of our five practices suits you. We will check what is going on and talk you through your options.
Questions this guide answers
Do I need to tell my dentist about my health conditions?
Cancer Research UK says to tell your dentist if you have had, or are about to have, cancer treatment before any dental work. The Oral Health Foundation says to tell your dental team if you are pregnant. Your GP or specialist team can say what else your dentist should know.
Do I need antibiotics before dental treatment if I have a heart condition?
Whether you need antibiotics before dental treatment is a decision for you, your dentist and your heart team, because UK dental guidance treats people at high risk differently. Tell your dentist about your heart condition, and ask your heart team or GP whether anything extra applies to you.
Is it safe to see a dentist when I am pregnant?
The Oral Health Foundation says routine dental care, including gum treatment and professional cleaning, is safe in pregnancy. It advises telling your dental team that you are pregnant and how far along you are.
Why do I need to see a dentist before radiotherapy to my mouth?
Cancer Research UK says radiotherapy to the mouth raises the risk of tooth decay, so your radiotherapy specialist may arrange a dental appointment first. Some dental work may be needed before treatment starts.
How can I tell if someone with dementia has mouth pain?
The Alzheimer’s Society says that later in dementia a person may be unable to say they have toothache. Signs include refusing food, touching the face or mouth often, a swollen face, restlessness or disturbed sleep. Arrange a dentist visit if you are worried. A swollen face or jaw can be a sign of a dental abscess, so the NHS says to ask for an urgent dentist appointment or get help from NHS 111.
Sources (10)
- Gum disease
- Pregnancy and Oral Health Tips
- Endocarditis
- Antibiotic prophylaxis against infective endocarditis: implementation advice, executive summary (2nd edition, March 2026)
- Mouth problems and treatments
- Dry mouth
- Delivering better oral health: an evidence-based toolkit for prevention, chapter 7: tooth wear
- Eating disorders and oral health
- Dental and mouth care
- Dental abscess
