Leading dentists have revealed how problems with your oral health could possibly be a sign of cancer or even pregnancy.
Dr Hanna Kinsella and Dr Kamila Azimova say there are some subtle symptoms which are going unnoticed.
Even wobbly teeth and ulcers have the potential to be serious, they say.
You can find out more just by how your teeth, tongue and gums look and feel.
The worrying signs to watch out for have been made public after nearly 20 million dental appointments were missed last year due to the pandemic.
It has caused a 'ticking time bomb' for the UK's oral health, experts warn.
White patches could potentially mean HIV or cancer, Dr Kinsella told MailOnline.
Although they are usually harmless, Leukoplakia as the patches are known, can be caused from smoking.
She said: "On very rare occasions white patches in the mouth can be a sign of HIV or cancer - your dentist will examine the patch to rule out fungal infections and check it hasn't been caused by biting."
Persistent ulcers, the experts say, oral cancer.
It can occur when a tumour develops in the mouth, including the 'lips, tongue, gums and tonsils'.
Lumps in your mouth that don't go away, tooth looseness or numbness are also worth checking out.
If caught early it's often treatable - so make sure you speak to your dentist.
Women who discover a red growth that appears on the gum that can bleed easily have been told that it could even be a sign of pregnancy.
However, it should be checked out to ensure it doesn't develop into more severe gum disease.
Bleeding gums could mean a hormone imbalance, it has also been claimed.
It could be a sign of gingivitis, Dr Kinsella added.
She said: "This could mean that your hormone levels are not balanced. Hormone changes or imbalances that occur at different stages of our lives can put some women at risk of gingivitis which is a gum infection."
Repeated vomiting could be caused by sensitive teeth, it was said.
The oral experts also advise that chronic iron deficiency could be identified by a red tongue.
If you have flat teeth - associated with headaches and jaw pain - then the dentists say, then it could be stress.
Dr Kinsella added: "Tooth grinding is often related to stress and anxiety and manifests itself with worn down, or flat teeth."
