Oral health in diabetics

by Wildsmile

What diabetes is?

Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease in which blood glucose levels are very high, due to insufficient production of insulin by the body, or to tissue resistance to the action of this hormone. Currently, this disease can be classified into three main types:

• - Type 1 diabetes. This is also known as juvenile diabetes and is caused when the pancreas produces low levels of insulin or no insulin at all.
• - Type 2 diabetes. It directly affects the way the body assimilates insulin and although the pancreas still produces it, the cells that do not respond to it.
• - Gestational diabetes. It usually appears in the fifth month of pregnancy and disappears after giving birth. It occurs because hormones in the placenta block the action of insulin, increasing blood sugar levels.

Oral health and Diabetes

Diabetes and oral health are a combination that can lead to complications if the necessary measures are not taken. This disease reduces the body's resistance to infection and slows down the healing process. If left unchecked, it can lead to the deterioration of white blood cells, the body's main defence against infection. For this reason, oral infections may become more severe in people with uncontrolled diabetes.

Diabetes can also decrease salivary flow and increase salivary glucose levels, providing the perfect environment for fungal infections such as candidiasis. The most common oral diseases reported by dentists in patients with diabetes are:

• - Periodontal disease in gums and bones.
• - Gum abscesses
• - Dental caries
• - Fungal infections
• - Mouth ulcers
• - Taste alterations
• - Dry mouth (xerostomia)

How to prevent oral problems as a diabetic?

• - Control your blood sugar level daily.
• - Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste and a toothbrush with adequate bristles.
• - Get regular check-ups with your dentist and diabetes doctor to keep your diabetes under control.