The Link Between Diabetes and Oral Health

At first, diabetes and oral health may appear to be two completely different and unrelated matters, but in reality, they are more closely linked than most people realize. To be more specific, diabetics are more susceptible to oral health problems than other people. According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes have a higher risk for gum problems and other oral health problems such as tooth decay, dry mouth, salivary gland dysfunction, taste impairment, inflammatory skin disease, and fungal infections. Gum problems are a lot more common in diabetics who have poor blood glucose control. For this reason, diabetics should be extra careful when it comes to dental hygiene.

Oral health problems are included in the top ten health complications people with diabetes have to deal with. The good news is that they can be prevented. Your oral health, in general, may be at risk if you have diabetes, but the following are three oral health problems to look out for.

1. Tooth Decay:

As soon as you notice even the slightest hint of tooth decay, go to your dentist right away. Continuous exposure to saliva speeds up the decay process and with the higher levels of glucose in the saliva of diabetics, this process will be much faster. So if you're a diabetic, have this problem dealt with before the decay leads to infection at the root.

2. Gum Problems:

One of the common side effects of diabetes is the body's reduced ability to fight all kinds of infection, including those that come with most gum diseases. Once the gums begin to bleed due to disease, they become more susceptible to infection. When the infection takes hold, it can be difficult for a diabetic to get rid of it. The infection can easily spread to other body parts and wreak more havoc. So gum problems should also be dealt with immediately.

3. Dry Mouth:

The production of saliva is much slower in diabetics, increasing the risk for dry mouth and similar oral health problems. When there is not enough saliva in the mouth, food particles can stay between the teeth and on the gums, eventually causing decay and infection. Furthermore, dry mouth is not a pleasant experience. It can become quite uncomfortable and even painful in the more severe cases.

Treatment of Oral Health Problems in Diabetics:

Some diabetics go to dentists who specialize in treating diabetics with oral health problems. Regular dentists, however, are also fully qualified to give diabetics the care they need. It is much more reassuring if you can find a dentist with considerable experience dealing with diabetes-related oral health problems. The treatment methods of oral health problems in diabetics are usually not that different from ordinary cases. The only difference is that the treatment must be done sooner in order to prevent infections and other further problems.

To get the best results, it is necessary to let your dentist know the details of your diabetes, including the type and stage of diabetes you have been diagnosed with and the medications you have been taking for the illness. In case you experience signs of infection following any dental procedure, you should let your dentist know right away.


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