Diabetes And Gum Disease

Did you know that people with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease than people without diabetes?  This is probably because a person with diabetes is more susceptible to contracting infections.  Periodontal disease is a chronic infection of the gums.  In fact, gum disease is often considered a complication of diabetes.  Uncontrolled diabetics are especially at risk.  When someone has uncontrolled diabetes, they usually have periodontal disease in a moderate to severe form.

Research has suggested that the relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease goes both ways – meaning gum disease may make it often difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar.  We see this all the time, that when someone treats their gum disease and gets it under control, their blood sugar levels stabilize and often we see that less medication for diabetes, or no medication for diabetes is needed any longer.  What an impact on someone’s life!  To think that someone with diabetes who is on medication, can become a diet controlled diabetic, just be controlling their gum disease.

Severe gum disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body has to deal with and process high blood sugar.  This puts diabetics at increased risk for diabetic complications.

People with diabetes need to take extra special care with their brushing and flossing routine at home and need to make sure they have regular dental checkups.  Someone with gum disease requires regular dental checkups every three months to exercise maximum control of their periodontal disease and the related diabetes. Dental hygiene visits every 12 weeks ensures that the maturation of the bacteria in the plaque that are responsible for the gum disease, is interrupted.  A professional cleaning at this interval disrupts the progression of gum disease.

For information about the connection between our oral health and systemic health, visit www.DrTav.com, where you can download a copy of our free brochure, “The Mouth-Body Link.”