How many of you know that there is a connection between diabetes and gum disease ( periodontal disease)? Yes, Diabetes has higher chances of developing gum disease than people who have healthy blood sugar levels. Diabetes reduces the blood supply to the gums. As a result, more infections can take place in the gums and bones.
High blood sugar results in dry mouth and makes gum disease worse. At the same time, less flow of saliva can allow more tooth-decaying bacteria and plaque. Taking care of your mouth whether you have diabetes or not because with good control of blood sugar and dental care you can avoid these problems.
What are the causes of increased gum disease?
For a person with diabetes, it is more difficult to defend the body and fight against dental infections. Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums due to bacterial infection. The bacterial plaque infects the teeth and gums and thus lead to gingivitis. Gum disease is the most common dental disease affecting nearly 22% of diagnosed people. As age increase, the blood sugar control decreases and this results in high gum problems. More gum infections may cause a rise in blood sugar. As a result, diabetes gets harder to control and less able to fight the bacteria against gums.
How Gum disease affect Diabetes?
The increase of diabetes and serious infection in gums affect each other vice versa. This not only means having diabetes make infection harder to fight but also having serious gum disease may also make diabetes harder to control. What are the precautions to control your health? Even if you don’t have blood sugar problems, you should still maintain your oral health. Likewise, brush and floss twice a day. Similarly, use a toothpaste that fights against the plaque bacteria and improves your gum health. Be up to date with your regular dental check-ups.
Take your professional dentist suggestion about taking a nutritious diet that nourishes your teeth and gums and help to control blood sugar levels. Things like regular exercise, healthy eating, and healthy lifestyle habits can also work on to keep your blood sugar levels under control.
The symptoms of gum disease due to untreated diabetes
Most of People with diabetes are affected by gum disease. Diabetes can affect every part of your body. You may feel extra thirsty and urinate a lot sometimes due to diabetes. Weight loss and fatigue are other common symptoms. If it is left untreated, it can take a toll on your mouth and results in
- Less Saliva, causing dry mouth.
- Gums may become inflamed and often leads to gingivitis.
- Problems in tasting the food.
- Delayed wound healing
- Diabetes slows circulation, that makes gum tissue more susceptible to infections inside your mouth.
- It reduces the body’s resistance to infection.
- High glucose levels in saliva promote the growth of bacteria which further causes gum disease.
Treatment and prevention
Your dentist likely recommends dental procedures beyond the standard cleaning you receive at check-ups. These may include thoroughly removing plaque, root planning, or oral antibiotics to control bacteria.
Some other helpful tips to prevent gum disease are
Smoking – Smoking a cigarette daily leads to more infections in your gum.
Good Oral hygiene – Brushing and flossing at least twice a day and regular dental cleanings will help you to remove the build-up of plaque.
Healthy food – Eating a healthy and balanced diet.
This article is intended to promote understanding of and knowledge about general oral health topics. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dentist at a dental hospital in Vijayawada qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment
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