There’s a significant connection between diabetes and various oral health risks. Unfortunately, people with diabetes have a higher risk of developing gum disease, mouth infections, and dry mouth.
If you have diabetes, it’s extremely important to consistently practice good oral hygiene and visit your dentist twice per year for routine exams. Not only will this help keep your mouth healthy, but it can also help with blood sugar management.
Why Does Diabetes Increase Your Risk of Gum Disease?
Individuals with diabetes have elevated blood sugar levels. With more sugar in the bloodstream, there’s also more sugar in the patient’s saliva. The bacteria that are found in plaque feed on sugar and can cause cavities, tooth decay, and gum disease over time. Left untreated, these issues can lead to tooth loss.
Since people with diabetes are already more likely to develop gum disease, it’s often also more difficult to treat. If you have diabetes and notice signs of gum disease, such as inflamed, bleeding, or sore gums, it’s important to visit your dentist right away. Your dentist can prescribe a treatment plan to help you manage gum disease with diabetes. Treating gum disease will help manage the sugar and bacteria in your mouth which may, in turn, help you manage blood sugar levels.
Diabetes and Infections
High blood sugar can compromise the function of your white blood cells, which are essential to fighting infections in the mouth. So, with diabetes, mouth infections such as thrush are more likely to develop and more complicated to treat. Oral thrush is a fungal infection that typically appears with white lesions in the mouth, along with soreness, burning, and inflammation. Your dentist or doctor can prescribe antifungal medication to treat thrush, but it can also be prevented with good oral hygiene and blood sugar management.
At Dental Implant Solutionz, we offer LANAP, the laser alternative to surgery for gum disease. This innovative treatment option allows patients with diabetes and gum disease to regain their oral health without periodontal surgery. Schedule an appointment with us today to learn more!
