Diabetes affects the lives of millions of people, mine included. My husband was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes almost two years ago. It has been a constant struggle, but we're getting through it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 24 million Americans have the disease, which affects many aspects of your health. Believe it or not, the health of your gums is perhaps one of the hidden signs of diabetes, and at the same time, the health of your entire mouth is also one of the important functions of your body that diabetes affects. People with diabetes are more prone to infection, and in the case of gum disease, diabetes can cause gingivitis to rapidly manifest into advanced periodontal disease. People with diabetes may unknowingly suffer from periodontal disease due to their bodies resistance to infection.
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) urges people with diabetes to obtain regular dental check ups and pay close attention to brushing and flossing their teeth. AGD spokesperson E. Mac Edington, DDS, MAGD, ABGD, tells us in a press release, "Without regular dental checkups, gum disease may result if gingivitis is left untreated. Gingivitis also can cause inflammation and destruction of tissues surrounding and supporting teeth."
Patients with diabetes need to understand how diabetes affects their oral health, in order to really grasp the magnitude of destruction their gums face because of their diabetes. Likewise, patients that have unusual gingivitis or gum disease, in spite of maintaining proper oral hygiene should consider speaking to their physician about what may be causing their periodontitis.
Do you have diabetes? If so, do you find that you have a harder time avoiding gingivitis or more advanced gum disease? Feel free to share your experience with gum disease and diabetes with my readers in my Readers Respond section: "As a Diabetic, Do You Have Trouble Controlling Your Gum Disease?"
I am now and have been a diabetic for about 10 years.
I am one of the lucky ones in my family. Over 3 generations of my previous family members died from diabetic complications before their 50th birthday. Both sides of my family tree is nothing but a long list of diabetics.
Me, I actually managed to get to my 51st birthday before the doctor gave me the diagnosis too. Because of living with it surrounding me all the time with other family members I learned a lot to help myself prevent it earlier.
My mouth though – yes, I average being at the dentist about 6 times a year. I joke with him, he seems to be my best friend. I see more of him than anyone else on my health care team.
Initially though, my mouth was a round of one problem after another. He has everything pretty much under control now, but an infection in your mouth does effect everything else in your body when you are a diabetic – first and foremost in that list is your blood sugars.
Do yourself a favor and make that appointment at your dentist. It will be one the best things you can do for your diabetes control.
To find many more things I have learned, check my website http://www.allergy-and-diabetic-health.com for some good tips that answer the easy questions your doctor never tells you.
It is so true that if a person’s oral health is ok, his/her diabetes is under control. For diabetic patients it is more important to have their oral check ups more often.