03 Feb 2023 Your mouth is the mirror of your all over health. A healthy mouth speaks a lot about your health. It is true that if you want to maintain a healthy body, and hence it is an extremely important thing to look after your oral health. If you are facing any problem then it is an extremely important thing to look after your oral health with regular cleanings and scheduled dental visits.
Today in this article we are going to discuss what affect diabetes has on your teeth and gums.
How can diabetes affect my mouth?
Diabetes takes place when your blood sugar levels have soared. This condition might happen when your body is becoming a resistant to the insulin, which helps in keeping your blood sugar level at check or it could also happen because your body isn’t capable of producing enough amounts of insulin.
It is not something new that diabetes can have a havoc effect on you’re all over body, and your mouth is not an exception. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes can have a harmful effect on you’re all over health too. Whenever your blood sugar levels rises it could eventually have a detrimental effect on your health too by damaging it more and more.
Diabetes can have a direct effect on your mouth and end up changing your saliva too, a fluid which helps in keeping your mouth wet. And not just that saliva also helps in the prevention of tooth decay as it washes away the pieces of food, and this in turn prevents the growth of bacteria and also fights with the acids that are produced by the bacteria. This fluid also consists of minerals which helps in the protection of tissues present in your mouth by fighting against the tooth decay.
Diabetes as well as some medicines which are used for the treatment of diabetes can end up causing the salivary glands in your mouth to make less amounts of saliva. Whenever there is a less flow of saliva it ends up increasing the risks of several dental problems such as dental cavities, gum disease, and other mouth problems. Diabetes could also increase the amounts of glucose in your saliva. Whenever there are higher levels of glucose in your blood it can also affect your saliva too.
This glucose can end up feeding on harmful bacteria and it can combine with the food and in turn if can form a soft and sticky film on your teeth called plaque and this condition leads to the formation of cavities. If you do not remove the plaque from your teeth then it can also end up spreading into your gum line and later it ends up hardened to form tartar, and this, in turn, can cause gum disease. If these mouth problems goes untreated it can ultimately lead to tooth loss. Let us know why people who are suffering from diabetes are more prone to gum diseases.
Why People with Diabetes Are More Prone to Gum Disease?
It is a very common thing to have a tiny amount of bacteria present in your mouth. If these bacteria end up multiplying in your mouth and accumulates in your mouth then it can end up causing serious periodontal disease. This chronic, inflammatory disease can end up destroying your gums, and not that it also damages all the tissues which holds your teeth and even your bones.
Periodontal disease is the most common dental disease which affects the ones those are living with diabetes. Especially with the increasing age, and poor blood sugar control there is an increase in the risk for gum problems. Now a question might arise in your mind that how will you know that if the problem in your mouth is due to the result of diabetes, keep on reading and you will get the answer in the next section of the article.
How will I know if I have mouth problems from diabetes?
Checking your mouth for the signs and the symptoms of the problems if you are suffering from diabetes. If your mouth is suffering from diabetes then you will suffer from the gum problems like, red, swollen, or bleeding gums, receding gums, pulling away from your teeth, loosing teeth, ends up increasing spaces between your teeth, dry mouth is an important sign of diabetes, not just that you might also suffer from bad breath, and that doesn’t go away even if you brush your teeth.
Cavities and Tooth Decay:
When the bacteria in your mouth comes in contact with the sugars and starch then end up reacting and this produces a coating around your teeth. And this is known as plaque, plaque consists of acids that slowly end up dwindling your teeth. When you are already having diabetes, it would naturally more sugar and starch and that will be circulated to your mouth. And whenever this situation occurs it means your teeth and gums would be more vulnerable to decaying.
- Gum Disease Or Gingivitis:
Diabetes ends up making your immune system very week, and significantly when it comes to dental health. If your immune system is strong and you are healthy your body would be able to fight against the harmful effects which plaque can cause. But if you are suffering from diabetes it would end up weakening your immune system and the plaque will end up becoming a solid hard mass which is known as dental calculus.
This hardened plaque affects the tooth base and when they are infected, they end up swelling up and this may even leading to bleeding.
Periodontitis:
Periodontitis is an advanced form of gingivitis. Whenever it occurs it attacks the tissues and bones that helps in gripping your teeth, and this leads the teeth to become loose and eventually it end up falling off. This infection persists as because your body can’t get rid of it due to a weakened immune system.
- Thrush:
It is not only bacteria but yeast too which at times can end up dwelling in your mouth. Candida Albicans, which is a type of yeast, and it ends up causing an infection.
- Xerostomia:
Diabetes can also end up drying your mouth, and this condition can end up causing a disorder which is known as xerostomia. In this condition your mouth is not able to produce enough amount of saliva in order to moisten your mouth. Whenever there is less amount of saliva it makes it an easier task for the plaque to stick to your teeth and this can also end up deteriorating your oral health too.
How To Avoid Diabetes Related Dental Disorders?
By now you have known that diabetes can end up increasing the risks of teeth and gum diseases, but it is always said that where there is will there is way. Even though if you are suffering from diabetes there are several precautions which you can take in order to take care of your oral health, and can keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Though there are foods which ends up keeping your blood sugar under level, apart from that you need to also maintain your oral health by following healthy oral habits. You need to also brush your teeth every day for at least twice in order to prevent plaque build-up. While brushing you need to remember to use a toothbrush which has soft bristles and always choose a toothpaste which contains of fluoride.
A part from brushing and flossing your teeth you need to also remove the stubborn plaque. Visiting your dentist regularly and apprise him or her of your current blood sugar level. Cut off smoking, drinking alcohol, or soft drinks as they are the enemies for your teeth.
Exercising regularly for at least 30 minutes a day is an essential thing. You can pick up any exercise such as dancing, running, weight lifting or yoga everything would work for you.
How Diabetic Patients Can Maintain Their Oral Health:
If you are diabetic, then there is nothing to worry out. With the proper steps, you can dramatically end up reducing your risk of gum diseases and tooth decay and also end up ensure that you maintain a healthy mouth. Here are some simple steps to help you do so.
See Your Dentist Regularly, visiting a dentist for twice a year is an essential thing. Visiting dentist for at least twice a year can end up help with regular cleanings and examinations. You should be seeing your dentist every three to six months so they can check your mouth for periodontal disease and tooth decay.
Maintenance of a Good Oral Hygiene Habits – Apart from visiting your dentist you should also brush and floss for at least twice a day. A regular oral hygiene routine helps you in destroying the bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay, even if you have elevated blood sugar levels.
Control Your Blood Sugar Levels Closely – This is the most important action you can take. Follow your doctor’s orders to control your blood sugar levels, and do your best to maintain a healthy level. Doing so helps mitigate the effects that diabetes can have on your oral health.