Diabetes and Your Teeth
Diabetes is a condition in which your body has difficulty processing sugar. While it is unfortunately easy to consume too much-refined sugar, sugar is important to your body because it helps generate energy. To convert sugar into energy, your body produces insulin which helps transfer sugar into your cells for energy.
Diabetes is presented in two conditions: If a person has Type I, they were born with diabetes and aren’t able to produce insulin. If a person has Type II, their body has developed diabetes because they no longer respond to the insulin they produce.
Did you know that your mouth could help you detect diabetes? Let’s find out how:
-Warning Signs/Symptoms
Dry Mouth: People with diabetes are likely to produce less saliva, which means more bacteria and plaque sticking to teeth. This ultimately leads to bad breath, mouth sores, and tooth decay.
Gum Disease: People with diabetes are more likely to develop gingivitis and periodontal disease. With diabetes, gum inflammation becomes harder to control, teeth can become loose and wounds take longer to heal.
Other Infections: Diabetes may cause oral burning. Oral burning is caused by unmonitored glucose levels and can leave a bitter taste in your mouth. Oral thrush (fungus) can also arise, causing white or red sores in your mouth.
-Prevention
If you have diabetes, keeping up with your oral health is important. Maintaining a healthy diet and drinking plenty of water is vital to keeping your teeth healthy. Additionally, make sure to brush your teeth and floss daily. It is best to use a fluoride-based toothpaste to help fight tooth decay from dry mouth. Lastly, always make sure to visit us twice a year for regular check-ups.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please contact us right away! Gum disease is a major sign of diabetes. Bleeding and swollen gums are symptoms of gum disease that should not be ignored. At The NJ Center for Laser and Cosmetic Dentistry, your health is our top priority!
Please call us at 973-244-2424 if you have any questions about your oral health or request an appointment with us online!