Diabetes & Oral Health: Everything You Need To Know

If you have diabetes, then you’re at risk of suffering from cardiac and kidney diseases. Unfortunately, diabetes may also be the root cause of dental problems. As the disease reduces your ability to fight bacteria, dealing with teeth or gum complications can get tricky.

Diabetes can lead to oral problems like gingivitis, cavities and thrush. So, it is vital to keep your blood glucose levels under check to control diabetes. It will enable you to avert dental issues and improve your overall health. 

This article will discuss the dental issues triggered by diabetes, their prevention and every important detail. Let’s dive in!  

What Is The Link Between Oral Health And Diabetes? 

When you have diabetes, your body’s immune system deteriorates. It reduces your body’s capability to fight against bacteria and infections. Moreover, diabetes also weakens your white blood cells, which are vital in preventing bacterial infections. 

As a result, you suffer from more oral infections that take longer to heal. 

You’ll be surprised to know there are bacteria already residing inside your mouth. With a weak immune system, these microorganisms tend to increase in number, and their concentration is misbalanced. 

So, it leads to gum infections and periodontal diseases, which can severely damage gums. People with uncontrolled diabetes experience periodontal diseases more than other patients. 

Similarly, if the sugar level in your blood is high, it is high in your saliva too, which also affects dental health. This is because the bacteria utilize the sugar in the saliva to survive and harm your teeth.

Dental Health Symptoms Due To Diabetes

Uncontrolled blood glucose levels can cause multiple issues inside your mouth, teeth and gums. Keep an eye out for these symptoms to prevent severe diseases later on.  

  • Inflamed and reddened gums 
  • Increased number of mouth infections
  • Persistent bad breath 
  • Delayed infection and oral wound healing 
  • Difficulties in tasting food 
  • Increased spaces between teeth 

Along with these symptoms, you might experience a lingering bad taste in your mouth. Further, you may feel problems when biting your teeth down. 

Common Oral Ailments You Might Experience 

After understanding the symptoms, you must also know the common oral diseases caused due to diabetes. These can affect your entire dental structure and gum tissues. 

Dental Decay 

When bacteria inside your mouth interact with the excess sugar in your saliva, a sticky layer forms on the teeth. It is called plaque, and it contains harmful acids. Eventually, these acids can affect your dentin and enamel, eroding your teeth. 

The condition slowly develops cavities inside your teeth. So, if your blood glucose level increases, bacteria obtain more food. It increases the harmful effects of plaque on your dental surface.

Gingivitis 

The primary gum problem is gingivitis, which inflames your gum’s soft tissues. In addition, the area around your teeth might seem reddened, which can cause difficulty chewing. 

Plaque build-up along your gum line causes this problem. The longer the plaque exists inside your mouth, the more it irritates your gums. Moreover, gingivitis can lead to gum bleeding. 

Dry Mouth 

Diabetes can reduce the amount of saliva secreted inside your mouth. The condition leads to a dry mouth. So, without saliva keeping your mouth moist, you can experience teeth ulcers, cavities and infections.

Reduced Oral Tissue Healing

People having high blood sugar levels have weakened oral tissues. So, the tissues take longer to heal if they undergo dental treatment, such as a root canal procedure.   

Does Diabetes Cause Periodontitis?  

If you leave gingivitis untreated, it can worsen and turn into a severe periodontitis infection. This condition might destroy your dental structure, soft tissues and bones that support your teeth. 

Gradually, this disease causes your jawbone and gum to detach from your teeth. Your teeth might loosen and fall out in the future. 

As diabetes decreases your ability to resist and battle infections, periodontitis doesn’t heal quickly. Moreover, the condition might elevate your blood sugar levels, making controlling diabetes even more difficult.

Ways to Prevent Dental Complications

To prevent oral health complications, you must maintain a dental care routine. Check out the practices you need to adopt to protect your teeth and gums.

Brush and Floss Daily 

Brushing twice daily will help prevent plaque and keep your teeth and gums healthy. It’s important to use fluoride-based toothpaste and a soft toothbrush. 

Similarly, you have to floss daily to keep the gumline and teeth clean. It also reduces the chances of tartar build-up inside your mouth.   

Avoid Smoking 

Smoking or consuming tobacco is a prime factor in dental woes. The nicotine present in tobacco can dry your mouth as it decreases the saliva flow. It dehydrates your mouth and also reduces the blood flow to your gums. 

This increases your risk of gum diseases and related issues. So, you have to take the necessary steps to stop smoking. For this, you can consult a doctor or join a smoking support program.   

Visit a Dentist 

Perhaps the best strategy to fight oral complications while tackling diabetes is to visit a dentist. You can schedule visits twice a year or after every three months. 

During each visit, talk about your issues and inform the doctor about diabetes. Mention any teeth or gum disease symptoms you’re experiencing. All this will enable the doctor to prepare an effective treatment plan.

You must also show medical prescriptions and reports about your diabetes to assist the doctor. Also, ask about the dental cleaning products and tools you can use to improve oral hygiene. 

The dentist might guide you by providing a dental care routine. 

The Bottom Line 

For enhancing your oral health and reducing complications, monitor your diabetes. So, you must follow your doctor’s instructions and avoid consuming certain foods that trigger blood sugar levels. These include sugary snacks, sweetened beverages and processed goods. 

Also, visit the doctor to check your blood glucose levels and receive more tips to maintain dental health. Alternatively, learn how to check sugar levels at home using associated devices accurately. 

The key is to thoroughly follow the strategies and medical instructions to keep teeth and gums healthy. 

If you have diabetes, then you’re at risk of suffering from cardiac and kidney diseases. Unfortunately, diabetes may also be the root cause of dental problems. As the disease reduces your ability to fight bacteria, dealing with teeth or gum complications can get tricky.

Diabetes can lead to oral problems like gingivitis, cavities and thrush. So, it is vital to keep your blood glucose levels under check to control diabetes. It will enable you to avert dental issues and improve your overall health. 

This article will discuss the dental issues triggered by diabetes, their prevention and every important detail. Let’s dive in!  

What Is The Link Between Oral Health And Diabetes? 

When you have diabetes, your body’s immune system deteriorates. It reduces your body’s capability to fight against bacteria and infections. Moreover, diabetes also weakens your white blood cells, which are vital in preventing bacterial infections. 

As a result, you suffer from more oral infections that take longer to heal. 

You’ll be surprised to know there are bacteria already residing inside your mouth. With a weak immune system, these microorganisms tend to increase in number, and their concentration is misbalanced. 

So, it leads to gum infections and periodontal diseases, which can severely damage gums. People with uncontrolled diabetes experience periodontal diseases more than other patients. 

Similarly, if the sugar level in your blood is high, it is high in your saliva too, which also affects dental health. This is because the bacteria utilize the sugar in the saliva to survive and harm your teeth.

Dental Health Symptoms Due To Diabetes

Uncontrolled blood glucose levels can cause multiple issues inside your mouth, teeth and gums. Keep an eye out for these symptoms to prevent severe diseases later on.  

  • Inflamed and reddened gums 
  • Increased number of mouth infections
  • Persistent bad breath 
  • Delayed infection and oral wound healing 
  • Difficulties in tasting food 
  • Increased spaces between teeth 

Along with these symptoms, you might experience a lingering bad taste in your mouth. Further, you may feel problems when biting your teeth down. 

Common Oral Ailments You Might Experience 

After understanding the symptoms, you must also know the common oral diseases caused due to diabetes. These can affect your entire dental structure and gum tissues. 

Dental Decay 

When bacteria inside your mouth interact with the excess sugar in your saliva, a sticky layer forms on the teeth. It is called plaque, and it contains harmful acids. Eventually, these acids can affect your dentin and enamel, eroding your teeth. 

The condition slowly develops cavities inside your teeth. So, if your blood glucose level increases, bacteria obtain more food. It increases the harmful effects of plaque on your dental surface.

Gingivitis 

The primary gum problem is gingivitis, which inflames your gum’s soft tissues. In addition, the area around your teeth might seem reddened, which can cause difficulty chewing. 

Plaque build-up along your gum line causes this problem. The longer the plaque exists inside your mouth, the more it irritates your gums. Moreover, gingivitis can lead to gum bleeding. 

Dry Mouth 

Diabetes can reduce the amount of saliva secreted inside your mouth. The condition leads to a dry mouth. So, without saliva keeping your mouth moist, you can experience teeth ulcers, cavities and infections.

Reduced Oral Tissue Healing

People having high blood sugar levels have weakened oral tissues. So, the tissues take longer to heal if they undergo dental treatment, such as a root canal procedure.   

Does Diabetes Cause Periodontitis?  

If you leave gingivitis untreated, it can worsen and turn into a severe periodontitis infection. This condition might destroy your dental structure, soft tissues and bones that support your teeth. 

Gradually, this disease causes your jawbone and gum to detach from your teeth. Your teeth might loosen and fall out in the future. 

As diabetes decreases your ability to resist and battle infections, periodontitis doesn’t heal quickly. Moreover, the condition might elevate your blood sugar levels, making controlling diabetes even more difficult.

Ways to Prevent Dental Complications

To prevent oral health complications, you must maintain a dental care routine. Check out the practices you need to adopt to protect your teeth and gums.

Brush and Floss Daily 

Brushing twice daily will help prevent plaque and keep your teeth and gums healthy. It’s important to use fluoride-based toothpaste and a soft toothbrush. 

Similarly, you have to floss daily to keep the gumline and teeth clean. It also reduces the chances of tartar build-up inside your mouth.   

Avoid Smoking 

Smoking or consuming tobacco is a prime factor in dental woes. The nicotine present in tobacco can dry your mouth as it decreases the saliva flow. It dehydrates your mouth and also reduces the blood flow to your gums. 

This increases your risk of gum diseases and related issues. So, you have to take the necessary steps to stop smoking. For this, you can consult a doctor or join a smoking support program.   

Visit a Dentist in Seattle

Perhaps the best strategy to fight oral complications while tackling diabetes is to visit a dentist. You can schedule visits twice a year or after every three months. 

During each visit, talk about your issues and inform the doctor about diabetes. Mention any teeth or gum disease symptoms you’re experiencing. All this will enable the doctor to prepare an effective treatment plan.

You must also show medical prescriptions and reports about your diabetes to assist the doctor. Also, ask about the dental cleaning products and tools you can use to improve oral hygiene. 

The dentist might guide you by providing a dental care routine. 

The Bottom Line 

For enhancing your oral health and reducing complications, monitor your diabetes. So, you must follow your doctor’s instructions and avoid consuming certain foods that trigger blood sugar levels. These include sugary snacks, sweetened beverages and processed goods. 

Also, visit the doctor to check your blood glucose levels and receive more tips to maintain dental health. Alternatively, learn how to check sugar levels at home using associated devices accurately. 

The key is to thoroughly follow the strategies and medical instructions to keep teeth and gums healthy.