Diabetes And Dental Problems
Diabetes is a widely affected disease that affects the overall health of a person. Diabetes affects your body’s ability to process sugar and all the food you eat is turned to sugar and used for energy. In type I diabetes, the body doesn’t make enough insulin and in type II diabetes body stops responding to insulin. Taking care of teeth and mouth is important if you have diabetes because the condition results in greater risk of oral infection and slows the healing process. Let us see how diabetes and dental problems are related.
Diabetes And Oral Health Issues
There exists the connection between gum disease and diabetes. Chance of diabetes complications increases because of diabetics. It is more difficult for a diabetic patient to keep his or her blood sugar levels under control. Higher blood sugar level leads to plaque build-up on the teeth. When the blood sugar levels are high, amount of sugar in saliva is also high that creates the environment for plaque to grow. Excess plaque increases the risk of infection and gum disease and also raises the risk of cavities and decay.
Gum-related problems are not only the oral health issues that affect the oral health issues. Diabetes also suffers from dry mouth and develops the fungal infection in their mouths. When diabetes is uncontrolled and if there is an effect of medication it may lead to dry mouth.
Symptoms Of Untreated Diabetes
You can see the warning signs of diabetes in every part of the body. You may feel thirsty, urinate a lot. Weight loss and fatigue are other common symptoms. If it is left untreated properly, it will take a toll on your mouth as well:
- Less saliva causing the mouth to feel dry.
- Less saliva also leads to the risk of cavities.
- Problems in tasting the food.
- Experience delayed wound healing.
- Susceptible to infections inside your mouth.
- Children having diabetes will have teeth that may erupt at an early age.
Caring The Teeth
Along with getting diabetes, caring teeth at home is an important part of the dental treatment. Brush teeth at least twice a day for about 2 to 3 minutes. Use toothbrush that has a built-in-tongue cleaner, Lot of bacteria exists in tongue, so cleaning it along with the teeth is important. Also, don’t forget to floss daily.
How Dentists Help You Fight Against Diabetes?
Dental visits are important. Research suggests that treating gum disease helps to improve blood sugar control in patients who are living with diabetes, decreasing progression of the disease. Thus practising good oral hygiene and deep cleaning by dentists helps to lower HbA1c. Thus dentists provide proper guidance and help to get rid off from diabetes and dental problems.
Diabetes And Dental Problem Action Plan
To keep a healthy smile as well as the potentially slowing progression of diabetes there is a need for self-care and professional care. Here is a suggested oral related thing that can be done for optimal wellness.
- Avoid smoking
- Clean the dentures if you wear something.
- Brush twice using the soft brush and clean between your teeth.
- Make regular visits to the dentists.
- Control your blood sugar levels
Hope you understand the how diabetes and dental problems are associated and how it affects the teeth and leads to dental cavities and all.
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