Diabetes affects many organs in the body and your mouth cavity is no exception. The high sugar levels, create bacteria in the mouth that can breakdown the teeth and gums. According to WebMD you may have gum if you have Gums that are red, sore, bleeding, or swollen, or that pull away from your teeth
- Loose teeth
- Chronic bad breath
- An irregular bite or dentures that don’t fit well
If you have unregulated high blood sugar levels, it can contribute to infections in the mouth that lead to dry mouth, gum disease, tooth loss, and fungal infections like thrush. Then in turn the oral infection can make your blood sugar even higher creating a vicious circle.
Seeing your dentist regularly and getting professional treatments can help keep your mouth healthy. Your dentist will teach you proper dental care.
“Sticky plaque — food, saliva, and bacteria — starts to form on your teeth after you eat, releasing acids that attack tooth enamel. Untreated plaque turns into tartar, which builds under gum lines and is hard to remove with flossing. The longer it stays on your teeth, the more harmful it is. Bacteria in plaque causes inflammation and leads to gum disease. Having high blood sugar often makes gum disease worse.”
Brushing your teeth twice a day gently moving back and forth on the surface, front and back of teeth for two minutes will help keep your mouth healthy. You should also brush the tongue and gums. Flossing daily is also important. Your dentist can show you how to do it. It does get easier with time.
If you have dentures make sure they are cleaned properly daily and they fit well because poorly fitting dentures can also lead to oral fungal infections.
Smoking is a habit that also affects major organs like the lungs and it can affect oral health as well. Not only does it stain the teeth it damages the gum tissues and helps to produce receding gums, it can speed up bone and tissue disease.
If you need to have oral surgery, you must tell your dentist that you have diabetes. He or she may recommend that your blood sugar gets under control before performing the surgery.
Be vigilant about your teeth and check for early signs of gum disease such as: “redness, swelling, bleeding, loose teeth, dry mouth, pain, or any other oral symptoms that worry you, talk to your dentist right away.”
