Oral Health and Diabetes

There are various diseases of your mouth that can have an impact on the systemic health of the body or it can be vice versa. So today we are talking about one such disease which is Diabetes. Your oral health and diabetes have a link that has been discovered by various studies and research being done in the past. Emerging evidence has supported this view and is said to cause numerous conditions that impact systemic (general) health and wellbeing, including diabetes. 

Various periodontal diseases or gum diseases which are said to cause the inflammatory conditions in the mouth have shown altered and elevated systemic (general body) inflammatory state and an increased risk of major cardiovascular (cardio-heart) events such as heart attack and stroke, adverse pregnancy outcomes such as low birth weight and preterm births, and altered blood sugar control in people with diabetes. 

Both diabetes and periodontal or gum diseases are the major factors for the unhealthy life of millions of people affecting them with severe illnesses. Studies have shown that diabetes has caused many oral effects including the risk of periodontal diseases which is seen to be high amongst diabetic people. Also conversely periodontal diseases and periodontitis is said to be a risk factor for causing an imbalance in the blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes and can increase the complications as well. 

Diabetes is abnormally high blood glucose levels due to a combination of hereditary and environmental causes. Diabetes develops due to a less production of insulin as in Type 1 diabetes and resistance to its effects as in type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes also called pregnancy diabetes. Diabetes can have many severe complications such as Acute complications which occur suddenly due to not having adequate or controlled glucose resulting in coma and death. Serious long-term complications can cause micro-vascular (micro-very small, vascular-blood vessel) damage and other consequences of high blood glucose levels on normal body function. It can cause an altered response to inflammation and wound healing which are the body’s primary responses to any kind of infection and trauma. There are other chronic complications which include cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack and stroke, chronic renal (kidney) failure, eye damage leading to blindness, and nerve damage. Poor healing of wounds can lead to gangrene due to necrosis and low level of oxygen in the particular body part and poor blood supply. Along with that, it all has an impact on your gums by making it inflamed or causing bleeding and loosening of teeth by the formation of pockets and furcation involvement. Diabetic patients have increased bleeding time which causes delayed healing thus dental treatments are not advised when the blood sugar is not in control.

People with Diabetes, especially type 1 require insulin for a lifetime to survive while type 2 is managed by a combination of exercises, lifestyle management, medications, and supplements. 

We at Dentist in provide all the support required to you and your family in terms of oral care so if you want to book your appointment please contact us and we will be very happy to help you. 

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