New Study Links Diabetes to Higher Risk of Premature Tooth Loss
A new study has suggested that diabetics have double the risk of losing their teeth prematurely.
The study, which has been published in Preventing Chronic Disease, analysed trends between 1971 and 2012. Data from more than 37,000 people aged over 25 were analysed by researchers. The findings of the study, which spanned more than 40 years, revealed a significant difference between those with diabetes and those who didn’t have it.
In some cases, people with diabetes had double the risk of losing teeth prematurely compared to people who didn’t have diabetes. Between 1999 and 2000, diabetic people were 33% less likely to have 21 or more natural teeth than those who didn’t have diabetes.
The study also suggested that older diabetes sufferers were more likely to suffer tooth loss than younger people with diabetes and researchers attributed the differences to improved dental treatment, better access to dental care and more education and support surrounding diabetes.
Researches have yet to identify the exact causes of premature tooth loss in diabetic people, however gum disease is thought to play a major role. One in three people with diabetes suffer from advanced gum disease known as periodontitis. This type of gum disease causes irreversible damage to the bone tissue supporting the teeth, causing the teeth to come loose in their sockets and eventually fall out completely.
In response to the findings, researchers have encouraged diabetic people to keep up to date with dental check-ups and maintain good oral hygiene at home. It’s also advisable to be wary of warning signs of gum disease, including swollen and sore gums, bleeding when you brush and redness in the gums.
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