It’s no secret that your oral health is linked with your overall health in many ways. From the relationship between gum disease and heart disease to the connection between acne and oral bacteria, keeping your teeth and gums healthy can help protect you from other ailments. There are also many conditions and medications whose side effects have an impact on your mouth. Today, we want to take a closer look at how diabetes can affect your oral health.
What Is Diabetes?
Almost 10 percent of Americans have diabetes, a condition that affects your body’s ability to process sugar. Symptoms of untreated diabetes include high blood sugar, excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, and fatigue. If your blood sugar drops too low, it could even cause you to lose consciousness.
How Does Diabetes Affect Your Mouth?
Diabetes can affect your saliva production. Not only can this leave you with uncomfortable dry mouth, it can also increase your risk for cavities, as saliva is one of the body’s first lines of defense against oral bacteria and tooth decay. Diabetes can also increase your risk for developing infections inside your mouth.
Diabetes & Gum Disease
People with diabetes have a higher risk for gum disease due to poor blood sugar control. Gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults and is a serious condition. For those with diabetes, a good oral hygiene routine and regular visits to our office are essential for maintaining the health of your pearly whites. To stay healthy, you should brush your teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled brush and floss every day to limit the growth of bacterial plaque. You should also visit our office every six months or so for a professional cleaning and dental exam.
We Are Here to Help!
The Smiles Dental team is here to answer any questions you have, whether it’s about diabetes, gum disease, an oral health issue, or anything else dental-related. Feel free to contact any one of our Washington or Oregon locations for some assistance.