Regular dental checkups are very important for
patients with diabetes to manage the oral complications of their
disease. In fact, severe gum disease in patients with diabetes makes
them twice as likely to die from kidney failure or heart disease,
according to a recent study. Researchers speculate that when the
gums pull far away from the teeth due to severe gum disease, harmful
bacteria from the mouth are allowed to enter the bloodstream, affecting
these organs.
In addition to gum disease, which is the most
common oral health condition related to diabetes, other mouth problems
include oral infections, fungal infections, and dry mouth, which
may be a side effect of diabetes medication or high blood sugar.
This is why it is critical that patients with
diabetes should take an active role in their oral health care. If
you are a diabetic you should brush your teeth twice a day and clean
between your teeth daily with floss, visiting the dentist more frequently,
if indicated, to keep gum disease under control, tell your dentist
you have diabetes and let the dentist know of any problems with
infections or trouble keeping their blood sugar under control, schedule
dental appointments for the morning and remember to eat and take
your insulin prior to your dental appointment.
