In ages past, one of the most generous gifts one man could bestow on another, was a horse. They also knew that one of the only predictable ways to evaluate the health of their pack, was to open the horses’ mouths and look inside. If you received the gift of a horse, only an ingrate would examine its mouth to determine its value. A trained horseman knew basically how a healthy mouth should look and this assessment determined the health and longevity of the animal, and ultimately its value.
Do you appreciate the value of a healthy mouth and its affect on overall wellness? Thousands of years later, first barbers, and now dentists can tell you much about the overall health of their patients by looking inside the mouth. The color, texture, shape and size of the gums have much to say about what might be going on with rest of your body. For example, if your gums are tender or burn, this could be more than must the practically ubiquitous ”gingivitis”. A burning tongue sensation or abnormal pigmentation of any segment of the inside of your mouth may be your body’s announcement to “pay attention to me!”
So, I urge you, especially if you are a smoker or use tobacco products, to take a good look in your own mouth every day. What do you see, feel, taste, or smell? If ANYTHING seems abnormal, give yourself the gift that keeps on giving. Go see a dentist, and become a gift horse to yourself and those who love you.