The Impact Of Diabetes On Your Oral Health
If you are diabetic and live in Ipswich, the Foxhall Dental Practice can help.
In the UK, there are approximately 3.5 million people aged 16 or older who suffer from type 2 diabetes, along with another quarter of a million who suffer from type 1. There may be many reasons for this but diet is likely to be a contributory factor, especially with the amount of high fat and sugar foods now available. Combine that with our more sedentary lifestyle these days and it is no surprise that some describe this as a ‘diabetes time bomb’. There is little doubt that things need to improve in this area of our lifestyle.
There are many health risks associated with diabetes but we will leave those to the medical experts. What we want to look at today is the impact that it can have on the oral health of patients of our Ipswich dental practice.
Why does diabetes affect our oral health?
There are two key reasons why this is a problem for our teeth and gums.
- High blood sugar levels can weaken our immune system and leave us more exposed to infections of the gums and oral cavity in general.
- The body is less able to fight off any bacterial infections that might occur in the body and that includes in our mouth. This can lead to a number of issues which we will see shortly.
What problems are you more likely to suffer from if you are diabetic?
One of the main problems that is likely to occur and which is much harder to control if you have diabetes is gum disease. As readers of our blogs will know, this is a very serious issue which, unfortunately, is often overlooked during our daily oral health regimen. We will look at how you can improve this later, but for now, it is important to realise that not only can this make you experience unpleasant symptoms such as bleeding gums and bad breath, but can even lead to tooth loss in its more advanced stage.
A dry mouth is a likely side effect of being diabetic. This will help to contribute to gum disease as the lack of saliva not only fails to flush away bacteria as it normally would, but also provides a perfect environment for bacteria to multiply.
Higher sugar levels also mean that our teeth are more likely to suffer from decay. Cavities and toothache may well follow, leaving teeth needing to be restored by fillings or crowns, or even the need for them to be extracted.
Any lesions that form in the mouth; for example, if we accidentally bite our tongue or cheek, are likely to take longer to heal due to our weakened immune system. This can lead to further infections which may be more complicated to treat.
What can you do to lessen the impact of diabetes?
While the additional threat may not go away entirely, there are certainly a number of things that you can do to help minimise its impact on your oral health. Naturally, you should follow your GP’s advice, and any reduction in sugar will certainly be beneficial for your teeth as well as your general health.
Most of us could probably clean our teeth and gums better than we currently do. This is especially important for diabetics though who are at a higher risk. The first thing to do is inspect your toothbrush. Worn bristles are ineffective at removing food and bacteria and should be replaced every three months or so.
When you brush your teeth, make sure to point the bristles towards the gum line so that they can remove any bacteria that might be trapped there.
Use dental floss. However difficult you think this might be, it really isn’t so please ask one of our dentists and hygienists to show you how to do it correctly. Flossing reaches areas that toothbrushes can’t and without flossing, bacteria and food is often trapped there and left to do its damage to both teeth and gums.
Smoking is an absolute ‘no no’ as this in itself is a major contributor to gingivitis and periodontitis. Add this to diabetes and the ‘time bomb’ could go nuclear.
Make sure you drink plenty of water to help combat your dry mouth. Make sure that it is water though and not high sugar drinks, and that includes excessive natural fruit drinks too.
Finally, our patients are usually recommended to see the hygienist to have their teeth and gums cleaned with a ‘scale and polish procedure’ every six months. It is possible that you will be recommended to see them more often to stay on top of any problems that might otherwise occur. This really is a good idea and, along with the other advice just given, can help you avoid the worst impact of your diabetes on your oral health.
If you are told that you have diabetes by your GP, it is important that you let us know when you come for your checkup or for any treatment. This will help us to monitor your oral health more closely and adjust any care you might need.
If you would like more information on this, or to book an appointment to see a dentist or the hygienist at the Foxhall Dental Practice, please call us today on 01473 258396.