Diabetes and Your Oral Health
Diabetes, the disease of high blood sugar, now affects more of the population than ever, about 9.4% of the US population, and is well known. Less well known may be the fact that diabetes degrades oral health. High blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) impede the cells of your immune system, making you more susceptible to infection. High levels of sugar are also seen in the saliva, and sugar is the fuel for bacteria to grow and multiply in your mouth. Diabetes results also in low saliva levels, and a dry mouth is susceptible to bacterial overgrowth and infection. Your gums may become red and inflamed, and bleed easily. Infections also will take longer to heal due to the blunted immune response caused by diabetes. To best fight these issues one must care for the diabetes itself, by controlling blood sugar levels with oral agents or insulin, to watch the diet avoiding simple sugars, to get exercise, and to see the dentist on a regular basis, for regular cleanings and checkups. (source: diabetestalk.net)
