Be Orally Healthy by Controlling Diabetes
The bad news: Unexpected complications come with being diabetic. And for those more than 20 million Americans suffering from the condition, most of them are still surprised when they are told that they have an increased risk of suffering other health disorders such as heart and kidney diseases.
Worse, people with uncontrolled diabetes have higher-than-normal risks for suffering from oral health problems. This is brought about by the increased glucose levels in the saliva that serve as food and sustenance for bacteria to thrive and eventually bring about gum diseases and tooth decay.
More bad news: More oral health risks come with an uncontrolled diabetic condition. These risks come in the form of abnormal healing of one’s oral tissues, dry mouth, and development of fungal infection, just to name a few. Periodontitis, or the term used to refer to advanced gum disease, destroys the bones and the soft tissues that support your teeth, leading to a heightened blood sugar level and eventually exacerbating your diabetic condition.
The good news: One can still do something about one’s oral hygiene to prevent the occurrence of these health risks:
Do not miss to properly brush your teeth after every meal.
Floss at least once every day.
Talk to your dentist about your diabetic condition, informing him of your medications and treatments.
Before any dental surgery or treatment, be sure to ask your physician to talk to your dentist so they could properly coordinate and discuss relevant matters such as whether there is a need for you to alter meal schedules or change your insulin doses.
Do not smoke. If you’re a diabetic and you smoke, you are 20 times more likely to develop oral diseases like periodontitis, gum problems, and tooth cavities.
Now that you know that there is a direct association between your blood sugar level and your oral health, make sure to take care of both.
Join this Discussion