It is important to take care of your teeth before any complications develop. People with type 1 and 2 diabetes usually have problems with their teeth.
Depending on if it’s long-standing or new-onset diabetes, dental care will change.
Diabetes and Oral Hygiene
It is important to keep the blood glucose balanced because if the level drops many problems with the teeth may occur. Moreover, if you give up smoking your teeth will also be whiter.
A balanced diet is also a key factor in reducing the risks of developing dental problems. Make sure you visit the dentist regularly to avoid any infections that might escalate.
One group of people that are especially vulnerable to teeth infections are diabetics.
Symptoms of Teeth Infections
- Loose teeth;
- Sore or swollen gums;
- Receding gums;
- Bad breath;
- Bleeding gums.
Visit your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.
Tips and Facts
1. Use a timer when you brush your teeth. Make sure you brush them for 2 minutes.
2. Brush your teeth the right way. A mechanic for brushing is important to maintain healthy gums. Mouthwash is also a good choice.
3. Fluoride prevents the decay of teeth and makes them strong.
4. Drink only water before you go to sleep.
5. Brush your teeth two times a day. Once during the day and once before you go to sleep.
6. After you brush your teeth spit the toothpaste before rinsing it to keep the components acting on the teeth.
7. Visit the dentist regularly.
8. Use floss or an interdental brush to remove teeth plaque.
9. Limit the intake of sugar and carbonated drinks.
10. If you have periodontal disease, get a gum treatment to manage your blood sugar levels.
How Blood Sugar Affects Dental Care
Make sure the treatment doesn’t affect your food regime. There are some treatments that do not allow the patient to eat for some time. Plan accordingly!
Moreover, if you have high blood sugar, it may make it harder for your teeth to recover after treatment. It is best to ask a health care team for advice.
Furthermore, you will need to change your medications if they can cause hypos, sulphonylureas, or insulin.
Thrush
Those with low blood sugar have more chances to get thrush. Thrush is a fungal infection in the mouth. So, to recognize it, you need to look for redness of the tongue, cracks at the corner of the lips, and patches within the mouth.
Types of Gum Diseases
Gum disease ( or periodontitis), is the most common disease out there. When the bacteria forms it sticks to the surface of the tooth. Here are the 3 stages of gum disease:
| Gingivitis | This is the starting phase of the disease. To avoid it, you need to take care of your teeth on a daily basis as well as the hygiene in the mouth. |
| Periodontitis (Mild) | If you don’t get gingivitis treated it will cause mild periodontitis. As a result, you will have damaged bones (the ones that support your teeth) and damaged gums. |
| Periodontitis (Severe) | At this stage, you will start losing the bones around the teeth along with the tissue. |
However, if you have high glucose, these diseases will develop more quickly. So make sure to balance the levels not to let the infection spread.
But, when the infection begins, your body will naturally increase the level of glucose in the system to fight it. Therefore, do not let the infection spread and affect your diabetes management.
Ask your dentist for advice if you have diabetes.
The connection between Diabetes and Dental Hygiene
According to research, the anaerobic bacteria which is a part of gum diseases causes teeth plague. People who have a higher chance of getting heart disease may be prone to gum disease.
Moreover, diabetes can increase the risk of heart disease and excess cholesterol.
However, investigations are still ongoing. It needs more proof to determine the connection between heart and gum disease.
Source: The Global Diabetes Community
