Can Diabetes Cause Gum Disease? How to Keep Your Mouth Healthy
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) agree that oral health is one of the concerns those living with diabetes face that’s often overlooked. In this post, we’ll examine the relationship between diabetes and gum disease and look at how blood sugar control can help give you something to smile about.
Diabetes is a metabolic disease that impacts how the body processes blood sugar. But anyone living with diabetes will tell you that diabetes isn’t the only health condition you have to worry about. Diabetes is associated with a number of health complications, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, and diabetic nerve damage.
One related complication that doesn’t usually top the list but is more common than you might think is gum disease, also called periodontal disease. To make matters worse, when your gums are unhealthy, it opens up a whole new list of possible health complications, including infection, persistent bad breath, and even tooth loss.
So, how does diabetes impact oral health? Let’s take a look.
The Link Between Diabetes and Saliva Production
You know what saliva is, right? But did you know that it isn’t just a bunch of fluid swirling around your mouth? Saliva is, in fact, an integral part of oral health because it helps wash away pieces of food, preventing bacteria from multiplying and also preventing the damaging acids that are produced by bacteria. Saliva also protects against dryness and helps protect your mouth against tooth decay. Simply put, you need saliva if you’re going to have a healthy mouth.
Diabetes and saliva do not get along, and you can probably guess the reason why – high blood sugar! Diabetes, particularly when it is not adequately controlled and blood glucose remains elevated, can actually prompt the body to produce less saliva. When you have less saliva, you have less protection against gum disease and other oral complications.
On top of impeding saliva production, high blood sugar can also cause your saliva to contain more sugar than average. Since your first dentist visit as a kid, you've known that sugar contributes to cavities and tooth decay, so if there’s more of it surrounding your teeth, you have a greater chance of experiencing problems.
Plus, when saliva contains more glucose, it gives harmful bacteria in the mouth more food to feed on, which can further contribute to gum disease and tooth decay. Bacteria can cause a sticky film called plaque to build up on the teeth, which eventually can harden into tartar, a hard substance known to contribute to gum disease.
Why Gum Disease Is a Serious Concern for Diabetics
Periodontal disease is often the first stop on a path to other severe oral complications. The gums are the mouth's soft tissue, and essentially, their job is to hold everything else together.
When the gums become unhealthy and infected, it can also cause problems with the bones that hold the teeth in place. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to tooth loss. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, an arm of NIH, almost 25% of U.S. adults with diabetes ages 50 and older have experienced severe tooth loss.
Warning Signs of Gum Disease in People with Diabetes
Signs of gum disease include:
– Red, swollen, and bleeding gums
– Signs of receding gumline
– Loose teeth
– Noticing increased spacing between teeth
– Dry mouth, sometimes accompanied by a burning sensation
– Persistent bad breath even after brushing your teeth
Gum disease is not something to ignore. It can ruin your wonderful smile, lead to other oral health problems, and will only get worse if untreated. If you notice any of the signs of gum disease, see your dentist immediately.
Top Ways to Prevent Gum Disease with Diabetes
Unfortunately, there’s no surefire way to prevent gum disease – even for those who are not living with diabetes. But there are two significant ways you can dramatically increase your risk.
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Control Blood Sugar
The risk of all sorts of oral health complications increases for those with diabetes primarily because of blood sugar elevation. In fact, according to the ADA, having less than optimal diabetes glucose levels over an extended period triples the risk of developing periodontal disease. So, one of the best things you can do to mitigate that risk is to keep your diabetes properly managed.
– Test blood sugar regularly using a glucose meter, test strips, or a prescribed continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device.
– Take your diabetic medications, including insulin and oral, according to your physician’s instructions.
– Eat a diabetes-healthy diet that’s low in carbohydrates and fats
– Get 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week as the ADA recommends.
If you are having difficulty controlling your blood sugar, it’s time to meet with your care team to find ways to get your diabetes back under control.
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Oral Hygiene and Dental Visits
Another preventative measure is simply taking great care of your teeth and mouth. Good oral hygiene means more than brushing and flossing daily (which you need to do, too). It also means seeing your dentist at least every six months. A lot of people attempt to put off regular dental visits either to save money or out of dental anxiety. However, if you don’t go every six months, it will increase your risk of gum disease.
Think about it this way. Would you rather pay for a cleaning and the chance to catch any problems before they become severe, or would you like to sit in that same dental chair getting ready to deal with an expensive (and painful) gum or bone graft because you avoided those regular dental visits?
Take good care of your mouth, lowering your risk of gum disease and all those related complications we would all rather avoid.
FAQs: Diabetes and Gum Disease – What You Need to Know
Can Diabetes Cause Gum Disease?
Prolonged high blood sugar can decrease the amount of saliva the body produces. Saliva is necessary to wash away food and prevent bacteria from growing in the mouth. When the body produces less saliva, it automatically increases the risk of gum disease. Additionally, diabetes can cause the saliva in your mouth to contain more glucose or sugar, which can further contribute to problems such as tooth decay and gum disease.
Am I at Risk for Gum Disease if I Have Diabetes?
With proper dental hygiene, regular dental check-ups, and diabetes that are correctly managed, you can lower your risk of gum disease. That being said, according to the American Diabetes Association, those with diabetes who have long periods of high blood sugar are three times more likely to develop gum disease.
How Can I Prevent Gum Disease If I Have Diabetes?
If you are living with diabetes, there are two primary ways to minimize your risk of gum disease and other oral complications. One, maintain blood sugar in the normal range as dictated by your diabetes physician. Two, make sure you engage in proper oral hygiene practices, including brushing and flossing daily, and visit your dentist at least once every six months for a routine cleaning and to check for any signs of oral health complications.
Do you have any additional insights on diabetes and oral health? Please share them with our readers in the comment section below. Thanks, and stay diabetes healthy!
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