Diabetes And Oral Care: What You Need To Know

Dentist Blog

Diabetes is a serious medical condition that can affect your entire body. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fact that diabetes can also affect the health of your mouth, teeth and gums. When your diabetes is not being properly managed, it can have devastating effect on your oral health. Knowing how to care for yourself when you have diabetes is essential.

Make Gum Health a Priority

When you have diabetes, you are at an increased risk for gum disease. This is because diabetes decreases your body's ability to fight off harmful bacteria, the same bacteria that invade your gums and cause gum disease. You can minimize your risk of gum disease by making gum health a priority. The best way to keep your gums healthy is to commit to a good at home oral care regimen.

Avoid using tobacco products. Visiting the dentist regularly is also important. Gum disease can generally be prevented when detected early. Regular dental visits can help in accomplishing this task. It's also important to mention that serious gum disease can have an influence on your blood sugar levels, causing them to increase. When your blood sugar levels are increased, this causes diabetes to progress and effect your organs.

Manage Your Diabetes

Make sure you are keeping your diabetes under control by managing your blood sugar level. When your blood sugar level is not being regulated, this can have a harmful effect on your oral health. This is particularly true when your blood sugar levels are too high. When your blood sugar level is high this can increase the supply of acid that is found in your mouth. While your mouth normally contains acid, too much acid increases the risk of cavities and tooth decay.

The acid does this by interacting with the bacteria in your mouth and wearing away at the surface, or enamel, of your teeth. It's best to combat this issue by making sure your blood sugar is at a stable level. Following a proper diet and committing to regular exercise is how you can accomplish this. It's also important to ensure you are taking any medications prescribed by your physician.

Make certain you let your dental provider know about your diabetes diagnosis. With this information, the dentist can better formulate care and treatment plans that will keep your mouth, teeth and gums healthy as well as keep your diabetes in control. Contact a dentist like Denise McGrade DDS for more information.

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24 March 2015

Help Others Make Health Decisions when They Cannot

One day I was playing a game of basketball with a friend, and the friend I was playing ball with tripped and took a hard fall to the ground. He hit his head hard, but he insisted he was okay and just wanted to go home and take a nap. I knew in my heart that he was not thinking clearly, and I didn't feel right letting him go home. I talked him into letting me take him to the hospital, and after some tests, it was determined he had a bad concussion. The doctors told me that if I had let him go home and sleep, things could have taken a turn for the worse. I created this blog to remind everyone to look out for each other after injuries. Not everyone thinks clearly after a head injury, and just being a good friend could save a life.