The Correlations Between Gum Disease And Diabetes

Dentist Blog

According to the American Diabetes Association, people suffering with diabetes have a greater chance of developing gum disease. If you have diabetes you probably know many of the risks involved; however, this one might surprise you. The good news is that if you take good care of your teeth and gums, it may help you control your blood glucose level.

Why does diabetes cause gum disease?

Gum disease is caused by tartar on the teeth, which is a result of sugars in the mouth. A person with diabetes often has a higher level of sugars in his or her mouth, and these sugars are found in the person's saliva. Because of this, cavities can form, which can lead to the development of plaque and gum disease.

Diabetes also leads to gum disease due to a common complication of diabetes–thickening of the blood vessels throughout the body. As the blood vessels thicken, the flow of blood is restricted. This tends to make it hard for the gums to flush out harmful toxins, which leads to an excess amount of bacteria in the mouth.

How does gum disease affect diabetes?

While having diabetes makes you more prone to developing gum disease, it is also true that having gum disease makes it harder to control your diabetes. According to Everyday Health, this occurs because of the elevated levels of sugars in the mouth caused by gum disease, making both conditions dependent on each other. 

Gum disease also causes infections to form. The problem with this is that people with diabetes have a harder time fighting infections. Because of this, any type of small infection could escalate into a major problem very quickly.

What can you do about it?

Knowing the signs to watch out for is one way to detect early stages of gum disease, and these include:

  • Bleeding gums
  • Swollen, irritated gums
  • Bad breath you cannot control
  • Loose teeth or changes in the appearance or position of your teeth

Gum disease is much easier to treat if it is caught early, but you can also reduce your chances of developing this by regulating your blood glucose level. If you notice any of these signs, or are having issues controlling your blood glucose level, visit your dentist.

You may not realize that you have gum disease until you visit your dentist because sometimes there are no symptoms. When you find out you have it and receive treatment for it, you may discover that you have an easier time controlling your blood glucose level because these two issues are closely connected. To learn more about the health of your gums, talk to your doctor and make an appointment with a periodontist.

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24 February 2015

Emergency Dental Care

The average dentist takes many client appointments each day and also deals with emergency situations on a regular basis. Dental emergencies are very common because people are likely to put off having tooth pain fixed until the pain becomes unbearable. Some people have anxiety about dental visits, and others are trying to avoid the expense of dental care. In either case, the end result is often a dental emergency. I have worked as a professional dental hygienist for many years and have seen all types of dental emergencies. I hope that this blog will help people identify potential emergencies before they become too serious and will allow people to know when to get help.