Dental Care
| Author: Judy Kohn, RN, BSN, CDE |
| Last Updated: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 |
Q: "Please explain the importance of oral hygiene for people who have Type 2 diabetes."
A: People with diabetes are more prone to gum disease and dental infections.
Causes of gum disease and dental infections:
- When your blood glucose is high, you have a higher level of glucose in your mouth fluids (saliva). This glucose "feeds" the bacteria and yeast in your mouth that can cause infection and damage to your gums.
- High blood glucose over time can damage your circulation, so that the blood vessels cannot supply your mouth with adequate oxygen and nutrients. The poor circulation can further damage your gums, and coupled with high blood glucose, cause delay in healing.
- If you have a cavity, the delayed healing due to high glucose can make you more prone to abscesses.
- With diabetes, you can develop a form of autonomic neuropathy (damage to the nerves) that can affect the nerves, which control saliva production in your mouth; in this situation, you could develop a condition called "dry mouth", which further increases your risk for cavities and mouth infections.
- Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) develops when bacteria grows in the space between your gums and teeth. First, the teeth become covered by a thin film called plaque; as the disease progresses to periodontitis, a harder material, called tartar, sticks to the teeth, and between the teeth and gums. As the disease progresses, gums can recede and bone can erode, causing bone and tooth loss.
- With any dental pain or infection, you may not be able to chew or eat normally. This makes it difficult to maintain diabetes control, which further complicates the dental problem.
How to prevent dental problems:
- Needless to say, you have to be extra vigilant in your dental hygiene!
- You can often avoid dental problems by following the fundamental rules of diabetes care: maintain good blood glucose control, along with regular dental hygiene (brushing and flossing).
- Visit your dentist regularly-every 3 to 6 months for a thorough cleaning and check-up.
Related Links
American Diabetes Association (ADA)
http://www.diabetes.org
Diabetes Self-Management
http://www.diabetesselfmanagement.com
American Academy of Periodontology
http://www.perio.org
Important Notice: The responses provided by the team of Diabetes Educators are based on their personal experiences and expertise as practicing diabetes healthcare professionals, and are not to be considered diabetes management advice from Abbott Laboratories. Remember that information provided by the team of Diabetes Educators is for general background purposes and is not intended as a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by a trained professional. You should always consult your physician about any healthcare questions you may have, especially before trying a new medication, diet, fitness program, or approach to healthcare issues.
All tradenames and trademarks not owned by Abbott Laboratories are the property of their respective owners. For details on tradenames and trademarks and their respective owners, visit the non-Abbott trademarks listing.
