Did you know? About 29.1 million Americans have diabetes. About 1.7 million new cases are diagnosed each year, and many don’t even know that they’re diabetic. It’s essential to keep your blood sugar levels in control. High blood sugar levels affect not only your overall health but also oral health. In fact, uncontrolled diabetes can take a toll on your oral health. This is because people with diabetes are vulnerable to millions of germs that live in the mouth, resulting in oral infections. Diabetes also decreases the blood supply to the gums, making them vulnerable to oral infection and disease. So, what does this have to do with your oral health, and how can you prevent it? Read on to find it.
Oral Health Problems Associated With Diabetes
Dry Mouth
Uncontrolled diabetes can decrease saliva, resulting in dry mouth. This can further lead to soreness, decay, infection, and mouth ulcer as the saliva helps to keep the mouth moist and eradicate problem-causing bacteria.
Gum Disease (Gingivitis & Periodontal Disease)
In addition to weakening white blood cells, another complication of diabetes is thickening blood vessels. This, in turn, slows the nutrition flow and waste products from body tissues, including the mouth. When it occurs, the body fails to combat infections and making it vulnerable to oral infection and disease. Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection, and people with diabetes encounter it more than non-diabetics.
Gingivitis is the early stage of gum disease. When caught at this stage, gingivitis can be reversed and treated. Plaque is one of the major reasons for causing gingivitis. If it’s not removed, it can harden and turn into a substance called tartar. Tartar can make the gums bleed and swell. If your gums bleed when brushing, please consult the dentist Albuquerque nm as it’s one of the signs of gingivitis.
If not treated at this stage, it can progress to a serious infection called periodontal disease. Periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss if not treated at the right time. Periodontal disease is severe among people with uncontrolled diabetes as it lowers the ability to fight infection and delays healing. Regular dental check-ups and cleanings every six months can help event gum disease. The best dentist in Albuquerque nm will examine your mouth and see for signs of gum disease, infection, dental decay, and other dental complications.
Thrush
People with diabetes take antibiotics and various medications to combat various infections. As a result, they are prone to developing a fungal infection in the tongue and mouth. The fungus thrives on the high glucose levels in the saliva and leading to infection.
As you see, diabetes can wreak havoc on your dental health if the blood sugar levels are high. Keep in touch with your physician and dentist Albuquerque nm to monitor your blood sugar levels and oral health. In addition to monitoring your oral and overall health, please practice good oral hygiene habits to keep bacteria at bay.
The author is a blogger and the best dentist in Albuquerque. Along with the team of professionals, he provides a range of dental services, including dental implants Albuquerque nm that is designed to improve patient’s health and smile. Visit https://www.wgregoryrosedds.com/ for more details.
0
