The Link between Diabetes and Your Oral Health

Diabetes is a serious disease. There are two types: diabetes I and diabetes II, but in both cases, the ability of your body to process sugar is affected, resulting in high blood sugar. This disease impacts all parts of the body from your heart to your nerves to your kidneys to your eyes and everywhere in between. It can also impact your mouth.

Diabetes and Your Mouth

Leaving diabetes untreated can be dangerous. It affects your body in a multitude of ways. Below are some ways untreated diabetes affects your mouth.

Dry mouth

Diabetes can affect your production of saliva, leaving you with low production, which influences your mouth’s ability to rid itself of bacteria. This can then lead to cavities and/or gingivitis. As with other cases of dry mouth, a good way to help combat it is by chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on hard candy.

Periodontitis

This is the extreme form of gingivitis that leads to your gums pulling away from your teeth, which then forms pockets. Germs and pus are able to fill in these pockets, and it might require surgery to correct the problem and save your teeth.

Your incidence of root decay also increases. When gums recede, they expose the root, leaving it open to infection and decay.

Other Infections

You may be more susceptible to mouth infections, including thrush (which is a fungal infection in the mouth) and the delayed healing of wounds inside your mouth.

Gum Disease and Blood Glucose Control

There has been a correlation between people with diabetes and the prevalence of gum disease, but it has also been shown that gum disease potentially affects your ability to control blood glucose and could contribute to diabetes progression. Serious gum disease could impact blood sugar levels, causing them to rise and making it harder to control diabetes.

Take Care of You

Poorly controlled glucose levels could result in developing serious gum disease and the loss of teeth. If you have diabetes, it is important to take care of both your blood sugar levels and your teeth and gums. Things that you can do include brushing twice a day, cleaning dentures every day (if you wear them), avoiding smoking (it makes these problems worse), and having regular check-ups.

By working with your dentist and scheduling regular check-ups, diabetes and its complications can be controlled. You can also prevent any major incidences from occurring, including losing your teeth or other serious medical issues.