How Diabetes Affects Your Oral and Dental Health

01/11/2021

More than 10.5% of the US population is affected by diabetes, and the disease can affect every part of the human body. However, many people brush off or ignore the consequences of oral and dental health. Whether you have Type I or Type II diabetes, you should pay attention to how your oral cavity can be affected by high blood sugar levels. The more the blood sugar level goes up, the more will be the damage. That is why regular intake of generic diabetes drugs is necessary. 

 

Here in this blog, we are going to discuss the different consequences of diabetes on oral and dental health; let’s have a look;

 

Gingivitis & Periodontitis 

These two are gum disease, which means inflamed unhealthy gums. A diabetes patient is more likely to suffer from these as diabetes weakens white blood cells and causes blood vessels to thicken. This results in the slow flow of nutrients to the body, including teeth and waste. And if not treated timely, it might destroy the bone that supports your teeth.

The symptoms you must be aware of include; swelling of gums, gums turn red and bleed, long-lasting infection between teeth, and sometimes pus between the gums and teeth. But if you make sure to brush and floss your teeth daily and visit your dentist regularly, you can keep it under control. In case it turns out to be severe, you might have to undergo gum surgery.

 

Thrush

A fungal infection caused by a type of fungus/yeast called Candida, also known as candidiasis infection. People who have diabetes have high glucose levels in their saliva and fungus, leading to a fungal infection.

Symptoms are red and sometimes white patches on gums, tongue, the roof of your mouth, or cheeks. In some cases, patches turn into open sores. You can kill the fungus by taking the medications your doctor prescribed.

 

Xerostomia 

Generally referred to as dry mouth, it is a condition where if you have diabetes, you will lack saliva. This can increase the risk of cavities and gum disease. 

Xerostomia symptoms are dry feeling in your mouth, rough and dry tongue, developing an infection in the mouth, swelling of gums, facing problems while eating, chewing, swallowing food, and even while talking. To treat this, you need to consult your doctor and get some medication for keeping your mouth wet. To prevent cavity, rinse your mouth with a fluoride mouth wash, consume water frequently, and try to avoid tobacco and caffeine.

 

Burning mouth and tongue 

When you have uncontrolled diabetes, blood glucose levels increase, and due to this, you feel a burning sensation inside the mouth.

Symptoms can be bitter taste, dry mouth, and burning feeling on the tongue. Also, the symptoms are likely to worsen throughout the day. Please consult your doctor as it might be happening because your diabetes medications are not effective enough.

Once your blood glucose levels are under control, the sensation will go away.

 

The above were the different problems and diseases related to oral and dental health caused by diabetes. The best way to prevent these oral problems is to control diabetes. Regularly consult your doctor for a change in prescription and dosage according to your blood sugar levels. Then buy diabetes medication and never skip pills as that can significantly increase the sugar level in no time. Remember, prevention is always better than cure. Have a great day!