What oral sign is associated with hyperemia?

Hyperemia refers to an increase in blood flow to a particular area of the body, which can lead to various signs and symptoms. In the context of oral health, hyperemia is often observed as a reddened appearance of tissues due to increased vascularity. This is particularly noticeable in the gums, which may appear swollen and red.

A dark, reddish tooth can indicate hyperemia because it may reflect underlying issues such as pulpitis, where inflammation of the dental pulp occurs due to increased blood flow. The tooth may appear darker than usual as the blood vessels in the pulp become engorged with blood, resulting in a reddish hue.

Other choices do not directly indicate hyperemia. Yellowish discoloration of gums typically points to plaque buildup or gingival disease rather than hyperemia. White patches on the tongue could suggest a fungal infection or other conditions, while swollen lymph nodes generally indicate systemic infection or inflammation, not localized hyperemia within oral tissues. Thus, the dark, reddish tooth's correlation to the increased blood flow is the strongest link to hyperemia among the provided options.