19 Dec Diabetes and the Risk of Gum Disease
Did you know that high blood sugar levels can cause dental problems? If you have diabetes, you’ll need to take extra care to protect your dental health. Even though conditions like dry mouth and gum disease are more common in people with diabetes, they can be prevented. Here’s how diabetes can affect your dental health, and what you can do about it.
The Link Between Diabetes and Gum Disease
The main link between diabetes and gum disease is the connection between blood sugar regulation and infections. High blood sugar levels weaken the white blood cells, which makes it difficult for the body to fight off infections. And because gum disease is a chronic infection, your risk increases significantly if you have diabetes.
Diabetes and Dry Mouth
High blood sugar levels can also cause dry mouth, a condition that further increases the risk of gum disease. Normally, your saliva washes away the bacteria that form plaque—it also neutralizes the acids that irritate your gums. But if your mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva, plaque can quickly start to build up and cause infections like gingivitis and gum disease.
Why Is Gum Disease So Serious?
We take gum disease very seriously, because it’s the number one cause of tooth loss. It destroys the bone and gum tissues that hold the roots of your teeth in place. Without enough support, your teeth are extremely vulnerable to damage and decay.
Gum disease is also very dangerous because it’s a progressive disease. Once you get past the first stage (gingivitis) there’s no going back. Gum disease only gets worse over time, and without treatment, you could be facing premature tooth loss.
If you have any symptoms of gingivitis, like bleeding gums, schedule a dental exam. There are many non-invasive treatments that can reverse gingivitis and keep it from turning into periodontitis if you act right away.
Treatment Can Prevent Gum Disease and Lower Your Risk
The good news is that serious dental complications can be minimized and even prevented with blood sugar control and good oral care. Preventive treatments can halt the progress of gum disease and keep it from getting worse. And frequent teeth cleanings to remove plaque buildup will reduce your risk even more.
Good dental health is important for good health in general, especially if you have diabetes. At Prescott Dentistry, we can provide non-invasive, preventive treatments like ozone therapy that will reduce your risk of gum disease and tooth decay. Give us a call at 928-445-1660 or send us a message online to request an appointment today.
Photo by isens usa on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 12/07/2023.