Diabetes
and dental care: Guide to a healthy mouth
What do brushing and
flossing have to do with diabetes? Plenty. If you have diabetes, here's why
dental care matters — and how to take care of your teeth and gums.
When you have
diabetes, high blood sugar can take a toll on your entire body — including your
teeth and gums. The good news? Prevention is in your hands. Learn what you're
up against, and then take charge of your dental health.
Cavities and gum
disease
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|
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Whether you have type
1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, managing your blood sugar level is key. The
higher your blood sugar level, the higher your risk of:
·
Tooth
decay (cavities). Your mouth naturally
contains many types of bacteria. When starches and sugars in food and beverages
interact with these bacteria, a sticky film known as plaque forms on your
teeth. The acids in plaque attack the hard, outer surface of your teeth
(enamel). This can lead to cavities. The higher your blood sugar level, the
greater the supply of sugars and starches — and the more acid wearing away at
your teeth.
·
Early
gum disease (gingivitis).
Diabetes reduces your ability to fight bacteria. If you don't remove plaque
with regular brushing and flossing, it'll harden under your gumline into a
substance called tartar (calculus). The longer plaque and tartar remain on your
teeth, the more they irritate the gingiva — the part of your gum around the
base of your teeth. In time, your gums become swollen and bleed easily. This is
gingivitis.
·
Advanced
gum disease (periodontitis). Left untreated, gingivitis can lead to a more serious infection
called periodontitis, which destroys the soft tissue and bone that support your
teeth. Eventually, periodontitis causes your gums to pull away from your teeth
and your teeth to loosen and even fall out. Periodontitis tends to be more
severe among people who have diabetes because diabetes lowers the ability to
resist infection and slows healing. An infection such as periodontitis may also
cause your blood sugar level to rise, which makes your diabetes more difficult
to control. Preventing and treating periodontitis can help improve blood sugar
control.
For More information contact Dr Carl Estler on 281-579-7222
9910 South Fry Road Katy. Texas 77450
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