Does diabetes affect oral health??While many people don’t know about this, diabetes affects oral health.?Diabetes and dental diseases?are connected. If you fail to manage your blood sugar levels, diabetes can lead to many health problems which include oral health problems such as gum disease, cavities, thrush, etc. and these dental problems also make your diabetes worse.??
But you can prevent these oral problems by maintaining good oral health and managing your diabetes well. Regular cleaning and taking oral health checkups help you prevent oral health problems and make it easier to manage your diabetes and its complications such as vision loss, blood vessel damage, and heart, or kidney disease.??
Learn about oral health conditions and tips to manage them. So that you can manage your diabetes and oral health well.?
Untreated or poorly treated diabetes can lead to many oral health conditions or diseases such as:?
- Cavities:??Cavities are one of the common conditions that you develop if you have diabetes. Cavities and tooth decay form when the starches or sugar of the food or drinks we consume interact with our mouth bacteria and build up a sticky substance around the teeth called plaque. This plaque damages the surfaces of the teeth which causes cavities and gum disease. Diabetes increases the supply of sugars and starch in our mouth which increases the development of cavities and gum disease.?
- Dry mouth:??A dry mouth is a condition when people experience lower saliva production. Old-aged people and diabetics can develop this condition. This is also known as xerostomia. Saliva plays a significant role in the mouth by making enzymes that attack bacteria and prevent them from growing. Without saliva, bacteria keep growing and it not only leads to sores and ulcers but conditions like tooth decay or gum disease.?
- Gum diseases:?Gum diseases are one of the most common diseases that develop in people with diabetes. It has two forms – gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is an early gum disease that is mild. It causes inflammation of the tissues around your teeth. It develops when plaque and tartar build-up on your teeth around your gum line and cause irritation and inflammation in your gums, which can lead to red or swollen gums that bleed easily.?
- If left untreated, it turns into its severe form called periodontitis, which is an infection that causes damage that the bone and tissues which hold your teeth. In the worst case, you can also lose your teeth. This condition is not treatable you might need to consult a specialist called a periodontist to get treatment. Sometimes you need to have surgery to save your teeth.??
- Periodontitis:??If you leave gingivitis untreated, it can turn into a more severe infection called periodontitis, which destroys the soft tissue or bone that supports the teeth. It causes your gums and jawbone to pull away from your teeth, which causes your teeth to loosen or fall out eventually.??
- It is more severe in people who have diabetes because diabetes affects the immune system and lowers the ability to resist infection and healing. Periodontitis infections cause your blood sugar level to rise, which makes it hard to control your diabetes. Thus, preventing or treating periodontitis with dental cleanings can help to manage your blood sugar levels.?
- Thrush:??Thrush is a fungal infection caused by Candida Albicans. People with diabetes are more likely to develop this fungal infection due to their lower ability to resist infection. It causes symptoms like painful white or red patches inside the mouth. You can prevent thrush by maintaining good oral hygiene.?
- Infection:?Infections like thrush and cavities are the most well-known infectious diseases you can get. In your mouth, not only bacteria but fungi also live. Untreated or poorly managed diabetes weakens your immune system which decreases the ability to resist infection and slows healing.?
?For example, thrush is a fungal yeast infection, that yeast develops on the extra sugar in your saliva which happens due to unmanaged blood sugar levels causing the thrush. The chances of developing thrush are more if you take antibiotics or wear dentures that cause sores. Thrush is just one known mouth infection but there are other fungal infections too which you are at risk of developing them. Maintaining good oral hygiene is the best possible way to prevent it.?
- Burning mouth syndrome:??This syndrome is caused by thrush or dry mouth or with some medications which include high blood pressure medicine. This syndrome makes you feel numb or tingly and there is a burning/scalding sensation in your mouth. You might even lose the ability to taste but it can also result from aging. This syndrome is not harmful until you start adding sugar to your food to cover up your lack of taste. Because this increases your risk of cavities and gum disease.?
- Wound healing:??Diabetes affects the ability to heal. Your wounds and injuries take a longer time to heal. And it also increases the risk of infection. Slow healing also affects your gums and teeth healing, which also takes longer to improve and worse faster than expected. This can also happen after dental surgery.?
- Tips to take care of oral health?
You can prevent all these oral health problems if you take care of your oral health. Some tips which you should follow:?
- Try to keep your blood sugar levels within the targeted range by taking prescribed medicines and changing your lifestyle.??
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once a day. Use antiseptic mouthwash to prevent bad breath.??
- If you wear dentures, remove them safely and keep them clean every day, and don’t sleep wearing them.??
- If you smoke, quit it right away.??
- Make sure you take regular dental checkups every 6 months. Your dentist also tells you when you should visit often according to your oral health. You should also show the test report of diabetes and the medications you take. So, if you have any oral health problems, the medicine dentist recommends doesn’t cause any side effects with your diabetes medication.??
Diabetes and dental health problems influence each other. Diabetes increases the risk of dental health conditions and dental health conditions make it hard to manage blood sugar control.??
If you need help with diabetes management or oral health problems,?call us at?13473845690?to get answers to your queries. We have the best endocrinologists that provide the best treatments, pay us a visit?at?1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212.?
Improve your quality of life by getting treatment from us!! Call us now.?
