Periodontal Disease
A serious gum infection that damages the soft tissue and bone supporting the tooth.
How can diabetes affect my dental care?
Proper dental care. To help prevent damage to your teeth and gums, take diabetes and dental care seriously: Make a commitment to manage your diabetes. Monitor your blood sugar level, and follow your doctor's instructions for keeping your blood sugar level within your target range.
How does periodontitis affect diabetes?
Multimedia. Periodontitis tends to be more severe among people who have diabetes because diabetes lowers the ability to resist infection and slows healing. An infection such as periodontitis may also cause your blood sugar level to rise, which in turn makes your diabetes more difficult to control.
Why is oral health important for diabetes?
Good oral health habits can help prevent pain and infections from tooth and gum disease. If you have diabetes, taking care of your teeth is even more important. High blood sugar can weaken white blood cells. These are your body’s main way to fight infections that can occur in the mouth.
How can I prevent damage to my teeth and gums from diabetes?
To help prevent damage to your teeth and gums, take diabetes and dental care seriously: 1 Make a commitment to manage your diabetes. 2 Brush your teeth at least twice a day... 3 Floss your teeth at least once a day... 4 Schedule regular dental visits...
What is the risk of tooth decay?
Gingivitis. Periodontitis. Whether you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, managing your blood sugar level is key. The higher your blood sugar level, the higher your risk of: Tooth decay (cavities). Your mouth naturally contains many types of bacteria. When starches and sugars in foods and beverages interact with these bacteria, ...
How to prevent gum damage?
To help prevent damage to your teeth and gums, take diabetes and dental care seriously: Make a commitment to manage your diabetes. Monitor your blood sugar level, and follow your doctor's instructions for keeping your blood sugar level within your target range. The better you control your blood sugars, the less likely you are to develop gingivitis ...
How to tell if you have gum disease?
Report any signs of gum disease — including redness, swelling and bleeding gums — to your dentist. Also mention any other signs and symptoms, such as dry mouth, loose teeth or mouth pain. Don't smoke. Smoking increases the risk of serious diabetes complications, including gum disease and ultimately, loss of your teeth.
Why is periodontitis more severe?
Periodontitis tends to be more severe among people who have diabetes because diabetes lowers the ability to resist infection and slows healing. An infection such as periodontitis may also cause your blood sugar level to rise, which in turn makes your diabetes more difficult to control.
What is it called when your gums bleed?
In time, your gums become swollen and bleed easily. This is known as gingivitis. Advanced gum disease (periodontitis). Left untreated, gingivitis can lead to a more serious infection called periodontitis, which destroys the soft tissue and bone that support your teeth.
What happens if you don't remove plaque?
If you don't remove plaque with regular brushing and flossing, it'll harden under your gumline into a substance called tartar (dental calculus). The longer plaque and tartar remain on your teeth, the more they irritate the part of your gums around the base of your teeth, called the gingiva.
How to get rid of a swollen gum?
Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Brush in the morning, at night and , ideally, after meals and snacks. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride. Avoid vigorous or harsh scrubbing, which can irritate your gums.
What is the most common dental disease in people with diabetes?
This chronic, inflammatory disease can destroy your gums, all the tissues holding your teeth and even your bones. Periodontal disease is the most common dental disease affecting those living with diabetes, affecting nearly 22% of those diagnosed.
How to get rid of dry mouth caused by diabetes?
Avoid smoking. If you wear any type of denture, clean it each day. Make sure to brush twice a day with a soft brush and clean between your teeth daily.
Why is diabetes so hard to control?
This makes diabetes harder to control because you are more susceptible to infections and are less able to fight the bacteria invading the gums.
Why does my mouth feel dry after diabetes?
( Dry mouth is also caused by certain medications.) Because saliva protects your teeth, you’re also at a higher risk of cavities.
How do you know if you have diabetes?
The warning signs of diabetes affect every part of your body. After a blood test, you may be told by a doctor that you have high blood sugar. You may feel excessively thirsty or have to urinate a lot. Weight loss and fatigue are other common symptoms.
What happens when you eat sugar?
In Type I diabetes, the body doesn’t make enough insulin, a hormone that carries sugar from your blood to the cells that need it for energy. In Type II diabetes, the body stops responding to insulin.
Can diabetes cause gums to bleed?
Gums may become inflamed and bleed often ( gingivitis ). You may have problems tasting food. You may experience delayed wound healing. You may be susceptible to infections inside of your mouth. For children with diabetes, teeth may erupt at an age earlier than is typical.
How to prevent diabetes and oral health?
Diabetes and Oral Health. Visit your dentist for regular checkups to prevent problems. A healthy mouth is important for everyone, but high blood sugar can make it harder to keep your mouth healthy. If you have diabetes, learn how you can avoid oral health problems and keep a smile on your face. Taking good care of your mouth is essential ...
How to keep your teeth healthy with diabetes?
Follow your diabetes care schedule to help stay on track. Here are a few more important tips: Brush your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Floss your teeth at least once a day. Tell your dentist if you have diabetes. If your gums are red, swollen, ...
Why does my mouth feel dry after diabetes?
Here’s a quick look at how diabetes can take its toll on your oral health: You may have less saliva, causing your mouth to feel dry. (Dry mouth is also caused by certain medicines.) Your gums may become inflamed and bleed often (signs of gum disease). Infections in your mouth can take longer to heal.
How to keep your mouth healthy?
Keep Your Mouth Healthy and Happy. Treating gum disease may be able to help lower your blood sugar over time. Regular dental visits are important to prevent problems. Follow your diabetes care schedule. Keep regular dental visits for professional cleanings, X-rays, and checkups.
What happens if you smoke and your gums bleed?
Other signs include dry mouth, loose teeth, or mouth pain. If you smoke, quit. Smoking increases your risk of gum disease and can worsen your diabetes. Learn More.
Does high blood sugar affect white blood cells?
High blood sugar can weaken white blood cells . These are your body’s main way to fight infections that can occur in the mouth. Keep that smile on your face, though! By managing your diabetes, you manage more than your blood sugar—you’re helping to prevent gum disease and other infections in your mouth.
Can sugar cause tooth decay?
Bacteria in plaque, a sticky film, use sugar as food. Some of this bacteria can cause tooth decay, cavities, and gum disease. If the tooth is not treated, it can also lead to tooth loss.
Diabetes and dental care: Guide to a healthy mouth
What do brushing and flossing have to do with diabetes? Plenty. If you have diabetes, here’s why dental care matters — and how to do it right.
Cavities, gum disease, and other problems
Whether you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, managing your blood sugar level is key. The higher your blood sugar level, the higher your risk of:
Proper dental care
To help prevent damage to your teeth and gums, take diabetes and dental care seriously:
How to reduce the risk of dental problems?
People with diabetes who have poor control of their blood glucose levels are more likely to develop dental health problems. Therefore keeping your blood sugar within a normal range will reduce this risk. Eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise and giving up smoking is also advised to lessen the risk of oral health problems.
How to get rid of plaque in between teeth?
You should use small brushes or floss once a day to remove the plaque from in-between your teeth, preferably before toothbrushing. Fluoride in toothpaste keeps the teeth strong and prevents dental decay. To prevent dental decay you should reduce the frequency of sugary snacks and carbonated drinks.
What are the stages of gum disease?
Gum disease is classified on the severity of its development. There are three stages of gum disease: 1 Gingivitis : Gingivitis is the initial stage of gum disease, caused by poor oral hygiene and irregular plaque removal from teeth. It is characterised by swollen, red and tender gums and it can cause bleeding when brushing. Luckily gingivitis is reversible, and through improving your oral hygiene techniques and visiting your dentist or hygienist for advice on a home dental health care program, you should be able to reverse this process. 2 Periodontitis (Mild): Untreated gingivitis can lead to mild periodontitis. The conversion of gingivitis to periodontics is more common in people who have a family history of gum disease, poor oral hygiene and uncontrolled diabetes. At this stage there will be damage to the gums and bone supporting the teeth. In order to prevent further damage a prompt visit to the dentist is required to prevent further progression. 3 Periodontitis (Severe): This is the most advanced stage of gum disease, characterised by significant tissue and bone loss around the teeth
What is the most advanced stage of gum disease?
Periodontitis (Severe): This is the most advanced stage of gum disease, characterised by significant tissue and bone loss around the teeth. Having prolonged high blood glucose levels can lead to gum disease developing or worsening more quickly, but keeping your levels within a normal range reduces the risk of infection spreading.
What is the term for a tooth that is bleeding when brushing?
Gingivitis : Gingivitis is the initial stage of gum disease, caused by poor oral hygiene and irregular plaque removal from teeth. It is characterised by swollen, red and tender gums and it can cause bleeding when brushing.
What are the health problems associated with high blood sugar?
Diabetes and gum diseases. Having prolonged high blood glucose levels can increase the risk of oral health problems, such as gum disease. Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, is the sixth most common disease in the world. It occurs when bacteria within the mouth begins to form into a sticky plaque which sits on the surface of the tooth.
Can gingivitis be converted to periodontics?
The conversion of gingivitis to periodontics is more common in people who have a family history of gum disease, poor oral hygiene and uncontrolled diabetes. At this stage there will be damage to the gums and bone supporting the teeth. In order to prevent further damage a prompt visit to the dentist is required to prevent further progression.
Why do diabetics go to the dentist twice a year?
"That might mean going to the dentist more than twice a year for diabetics because they are more prone to get periodontal disease ," Cram says.
Why does dry mouth cause dental problems?
Dry mouth — another symptom of diabetes — also can cause dental issues because the enzymes in saliva help to kill plaque. Additionally, people with dry mouth may suck on ...
How often should diabetics floss?
To combat the risk, diabetics should be impeccable with their home dental care. Cram recommends brushing twice a day and flossing at least once per day. "Diabetics should make this a part of their regular routine, just like checking their blood sugar, insulin and other preventative measures.
Do dentists need to know what medications you are on?
However, dentists need to know what medications you are on and how well maintained your diabetes is before they prescribe treatment plans. The ADA offers a consumer website with a diabetes section and dental health symptoms to watch out for as you age.
Can periodontal disease cause pain?
The tricky part of periodontal disease, which is low-grade infection in and around the gums, bones and teeth, is that it may not cause pain at first or could hurt only for a short time and then seem to get better. But if left untreated, the infection could still be building under your gums.
Can diabetes raise blood sugar?
This can raise blood sugar levels and weaken the immune system, making patients more at risk for getting diabetes, or making it harder to control existing diabetes. This is especially true for people who have a family history of diabetes, or predisposing factors like obesity and poor diet.
Is dental care necessary for diabetics?
Daily dental care and regular check ups should be part of routine diabetes management. Most diabetics are ke enly aware of the elevated health risks they face because of their condition, but potential dangers lurking in their mouths might not be foremost on their minds.
ABSTRACT
Dentists play a major role as part of an allied health team in providing oral care to patients with diabetes. As such, they may detect undiagnosed cases of diabetes and refer patients to physicians for further evaluation.
GLYCEMIC CONTROL REVISITED
Blood glucose or glycemic control is fundamental to the medical management of diabetes; prolonged and severe hyperglycemia is associated with systemic and oral complications. Thus, a management plan is needed.
ORAL COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES
The oral complications of uncontrolled diabetes mellitus are devastating.
GENERAL MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS
The dentist plays a major role in referral of patients with diabetes to physicians for additional evaluation.
MANAGEMENT OF THE ORAL COMPLICATIONS OF DIABETES
The comprehensive management of oral infections in patients with diabetes is beyond the scope of this article. Other sources are available that provide advice and examples of detailed therapeutic regimens.
CONCLUSION
The dentist plays a major role with allied members of the health team in helping a patient maintain glycemic control by properly treating oral infections, and by instructing the patient with diabetes to maintain rigorous oral hygiene and a proper diet.
Article Info
The author thanks Dr. Jonathan Ship for coordinating this special edition to JADA on diabetes mellitus
