All parts of the body are interconnected and when one part is in trouble, the rest of the body is affected. You might already be aware of how diabetes affects dental health, but you might find yourself wondering if there is a link between gum disease and diabetes. Read on to learn more.
A high-carb, high-sugar diet, excessive drinking, smoking and poor overall health. These are the things that eventually lead to both gum disease and diabetes. Consuming too much sugar and too many carbohydrates feeds plaque-causing bacteria in the mouth. When plaque is left to accumulate in the mouth, it infects the gums, setting off gum disease.
Type 2 diabetes is likewise triggered by unhealthy lifestyle choices like poor diet and lack of exercise. Over time, a sugar-rich diet leads to weight gain and permanently high blood sugar that can no longer be regulated by the body (also known as diabetes).
Now, could a person get both diseases at the same time? Or, if a person becomes a diabetic, will gum disease be triggered as well? What if gum disease strikes first? Could gum disease cause a person to become diabetic?
Diabetes causes high blood sugar and lowered immunity. Also, diabetics take longer to heal.
High blood sugar results in high glucose levels in saliva. A person who has low immunity may have persistent bacteria in the mouth. The glucose and bacteria come together to form the plaque that sets off gum disease. This causes the gum to become tender and weakened, which leads to the skin on the gum breaking more easily. Broken skin heals slowly in diabetics, and this could make the gum disease worse.
The good news is that if caught early, gum disease is easily managed in diabetics. It only takes a little dental work and good oral care.
The Department of Periodontology at the University of Copenhagen did a study to assess if periodontal disease led to pre-diabetes in non-diabetic patients. The study was published in the Journal of Periodontology in March 2007.
The study found that advanced gum disease can cause the fasting blood sugar level of a non-diabetic to rise. Once the blood sugar level exceeds 5.6 millimoles per liter, the person becomes pre-diabetic. The study showed that advanced gum disease affects the regulation of glucose in the body. When the body fails to regulate sugar, a pre-diabetic may become fully diabetic.
Severe gum disease can also raise the blood sugar of a diabetic, overriding any medication taken to regulate glucose levels. In such a scenario, the risk of diabetic complications increases.
Gum disease can trigger type 2 diabetes and type 2 diabetes can lead to gum disease. This means taking care of our teeth through diet and oral hygiene helps to keep our blood sugar low. Conversely, keeping our bodies healthy by eating right and exercising is good for our oral health.
Contact one of our dentists if you need gum disease treatments.
For more information or to schedule an appointment with McCarthy Dentistry, request an appointment in our Marietta dental office here: https://www.mytotaldentistry.com. Or call us at (740) 546-5178.
Periodontics involves keeping the gums clean and healthy. The gums and underlying jawbone play an essential role in keeping teeth in the proper position. If these supporting structures of teeth are weakened by periodontal disease, the long-term health of teeth is in jeopardy. The primary focus of periodontics is on the prevention of gum disease, although…
Your loving parents might not have shared periodontal tips like these. You probably heard your entire life how important it is to brush after every meal as well as after snacks. What you might not have heard is that brushing too hard can actually cause damage to the gums. For you and your children, consider…
Having an in-house periodontist come to your dental office can be a great way to reduce stress on your dental routine. Instead of driving between two offices, you get it all under one roof.The less time spent on maintenance for your teeth, the more time you have to unwind and relax. Having an in-house periodontist…
If you are missing teeth, dental implant surgery could be the right treatment for you. Though you may have other options such as dentures or crowns, there are appealing benefits this procedure offers. Your dentist can discuss with you how this procedure works and whether it makes sense for you. You will enjoy the way…
Most people want to have dental implants right after dental extraction. Replacing the lost tooth is a priority. This can prevent more complications as the mouth heals. Understanding the process of getting implants after dental extraction can help prepare you for your appointment. Here are the details about getting dental implants after a dentist removes…
Dental implants are small, titanium screws placed into the jawbone where a tooth was removed. The implant fuses with the jawbone over time and supports a crown, bridge, or denture. This article will review six warning signs that it is time to inquire about dental implants.Many people (adults) postpone receiving treatment after losing a tooth…