Diabetes affects oral health! The American Diabetes Association estimates that 23.1 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes, whether it be type 1, type 2, or gestational. At least another 7 million remain undiagnosed, and that doesn’t include the additional millions who are considered pre-diabetic. But what does diabetes have to do with oral health? Unfortunately, quite a lot.
Diabetes And Gum Disease
Diabetes is a chronic disease that either means the pancreas doesn’t produce insulin (type 1) or that the body doesn’t use it effectively (type 2 and gestational), both of which cause elevated blood glucose. The most serious impact elevated blood glucose has on oral health is that it simultaneously weakens the immune system and provides more food for the bacteria that attack teeth and gums.
This two-pronged attack is why 22% of diabetics also have gum disease, whether in the early stages of inflammation (gingivitis) or in the advanced stages (periodontitis) that threaten the teeth, gums, and supporting bone. The bacteria that causes gum disease can also travel through the bloodstream and make it even harder to regulate blood sugar.
Other Ways Diabetes Affects Oral Health
In addition to increasing the risk of gingivitis and periodontitis, uncontrolled diabetes can also lead to a variety of other oral health problems, such as:
Dry mouth
Burning mouth syndrome
Impaired or slower healing
Increased severity and frequency of infections
Fungal infections
Salivary gland enlargement
What You Can Do
The bad news is that diabetes affects oral health. Now for the good news: even with diabetes, good oral health is within reach. Even better: keeping your teeth and gums healthy will also make the diabetes easier to manage! Make sure to brush twice a day for two minutes with a soft-bristled brush and fluoride toothpaste, floss daily or use a water flosser or interdental brush, use a non-alcoholic mouthwash, and don’t smoke. Carefully regulating your sugar intake is a major factor as well.
The Dentist’s Role
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, the standard two dental exams per year may not be enough. To stay on the safe side, we recommend that you increase the number of yearly visits to three or four. It is also crucial for us to know how you and your doctor are working together to get it under control. Likewise, your doctor needs to know how we are working with you to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
At The Dentistry in Naples, Dr. John Cancelliere and Dr. Sam Cancelliere will check you regularly to make sure that your diabetes is not causing the onset or progression of periodontal (gum) disease. Remember, we’re your NO FEAR, NO PAIN dentists, and we are a family practice that looks out for our patients as if they were our own family. Give Dr. John Cancelliere and Dr. Sam Cancelliere a call today at The Dentistry in Naples at 239-566-2422!
Top image by Flickr user Kolin Toney used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.
