Diabetes is a disease characterized by a lack of insulin production in the body. Some people are born with the condition (Type 1) while other follow unhealthy life style choices and develop the illness (Type 2). Regardless of which type of diabetes you have, paying attention to your dental health is imperative for your overall well being as the illness increases the risk of developing oral health issues.
Fluctuation in blood sugar levels are the biggest oral health threat associated with the condition and put diabetics diabetes at greater risk for oral health issues including dry mouth, gingivitis, periodontitis, slow tissue healing and thrush (oral fungal condition). Luckily, many dentists are skilled in detecting oral conditions associated with diabetes and can actually alert patients about the condition, as nearly one-third of people with the disease are walking around undiagnosed.
The reason why diabetics are more vulnerable to oral health issues is because of the relationship between blood sugars and dental health. When a person has an infection of any type, the body naturally increases the production of the cytokines protein. Cytokines will naturally increase insulin resistance and make controlling blood sugars increasingly burdensome. Diabetes can impair the natural healing abilities of the human body, making gum disease hard to control. Plus, gum disease will not only contribute to existing diabetic issues, the infection can also force the issue in the 54 million Americans classified as pre-diabetic (WebMD.com).
Knowing this information is the first step to improving your overall health. Maintaining an oral health care regime for those with diabetes is crucial as it has been reported that people with type 2 diabetes can help control the disease by taking better care of their teeth and gums.