I still remember working out at the gym one day, when my trainer introduced me to one of his clients, Cynthia. She was a new mom, in her early 30’s, full of energy.

When she found out I’m a periodontist, her eyes lit up: “Wow, I’ve been meaning to go in and see one! My gums are bleeding for no reason and I don’t know why!”

She was very alarmed by this, especially because she was brushing and flossing, but she would wake up with bleeding gums, or sometimes she would be eating and she would notice bleeding.

I glanced at her smile right there at the gym. It was beautiful, but just a little bleeding coming from the upper right. Later on that week, she came to the office and I did a full exam. No sign of periodontal disease or bone loss. She brushed and flossed very well, and no visible plaque was present. I referred her to the integrative MD I work with. I knew her bleeding gums were a sign of something else going on with her health.

Two weeks later I get the diagnosis: this beautiful woman had leukemia.

The month of September is leukemia and lymphoma awareness month. I want to make you aware that sometimes the mouth is the first place symptoms show up. Blood cancers, such as these, manifest in the mouth. Lymphoma for example, can manifest as a simple toothache.

If you have bleeding gums or a toothache, don’t ignore it. Go visit your dentist of periodontist. These symptoms may be a sign of something bigger. The earlier it is diagnosed, the easier it is to treat.

In great health,
Dr. Sanda

To determine if your symptoms are a sign of something bigger contact Dr. Sanda Moldovan to schedule a consultation.