Reston, Virginia
Diabetes is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States. A little over 9% of Americans suffer from it and another 40,000 will be diagnosed this year alone. Staggering statistics, yes. Which is why it is so important to know the symptoms of diabetes in case you’re undiagnosed, or, if you already suffer from the disease, how it can affect your body– especially the health of your mouth.
What is diabetes?
Simply put, diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to process sugar. There are two types:
In Type I diabetes, the body cannot produce enough insulin (a hormone that carries sugar from your blood to the cells that need it for energy). In Type II, the body stops responding to insulin. Both of these types of diabetes result in higher blood sugar levels. And having high blood sugar or an imbalance of blood sugar on a daily basis can negatively impact every organ in the body.
So what does this have to do with your smile? And more important, how can you protect your mouth if you have or might have diabetes?
The link between diabetes and problems with your mouth is high blood sugar. If blood sugar is uncontrolled, oral health problems are more likely to develop such as gum (periodontal) disease and dental decay (cavities), both of which lead to the loss of teeth. This is because poorly controlled diabetes weakens white blood cells, which are the body’’s main defense against bacterial infections that can occur in the mouth. Infact, one in five cases of total tooth loss is linked to diabetes.
It’s important to understand the symptoms of diabetes in the event you are prediabetic or have not been diagnosed…yet. Knowing early-on that you have diabetes, or are on the verge of becoming diabetic, can help you make small changes in diet and exercise that will make a big difference in your overall health.
Listen to your body and if you are experiencing and of the following, it could be a sign that you have diabetes:
- Excessive thirst
- Frequent urination
- Feeling hungry all the time
- Numbness or pain in your hands and feet
- Blurry vision
- Slowly healing of cuts and wounds
- Feeling tired often
What Diabetes Does…Specifically to Your Mouth:
Gum Disease – Bleeding gums when you’re brushing and/or flossing your teeth is not normal, even though it happens to a lot of people. Don’t ignore it. Bleeding gums could be an early sign of having diabetes. If left untreated, this can develop into gum (periodontal) disease, eventually leading to tooth loss.
Dry Mouth – If you’re feeling more thirsty than usual, you might be suffering from dry mouth, another early sign of diabetes. Those suffering from diabetes tend to have less saliva. This may result in cavities and tooth decay if not treated.
Thrush / Infections – Your immune system tends to be weaker when you are suffering from diabetes, making the body and mouth vulnerable to being attacked by infections. One of the most common oral infections is a yeast infection known as thrush (candidiasis). While anyone can contract thrush, diabetics usually suffer most, especially diabetics who wear dentures. This infection begins as a white layer coating on your tongue and inside your cheeks, is difficult to get rid of, and leaves an unpleasant taste in your mouth. Thrush can also lead to oral fungal infections.
Slow or Poor Healing – Because diabetes affects blood flow, diabetics are usually slow to heal. So any dental work you might need, specifically tooth extractions, will be harder to bounce back from as oral tissue will heal less quickly.
What Should You Do To Maintain Good Oral Health & Fight Diabetes
Aside from knowing early whether you are suffering from diabetes and any oral problems associated with the condition, there are many ways in which you can fight or avoid diabetes and maintain a good oral health.
- See Dr. Queen at Elden Street Dental Care in Herndon every six months. Dentists are often the first to see the signs of a disease, so regular trips to the dentist could be the best way to find out you have diabetes. Diabetics who neglect regular dental visits put their health–and their finances–at risk!
- Keeping your blood sugar in a healthy range and eating a healthy diet are also good ways of maintaining optimal oral health.
- Brush and floss your teeth regularly. Regular brushing should be done right after meals, before going to bed and after waking up in the morning. This way, the bacteria from food doesn’t sit for long in your mouth. If you wear dentures, it is imperative to clean them daily. Just as you wouldn’t want to eat off the same dirty plate every day, you wouldn’t want to keep putting something covered in old food back into your mouth.
- Drink plenty of water. Not only does this help combat dry mouth, water is the best option for diabetics because it won’t raise your blood sugar levels.
- it is also a way of keeping your mouth clean and helps in keeping your blood sugar and blood flow in a good condition.
- Avoid drinks like soda and alcohol. Soda is full of sugar and can cause a diabetic’s blood sugar levels to be out of whack. If you have high blood pressure or nerve damage from your diabetes, drinking alcohol in excess might worsen these conditions.
What Can Dr. Queen Do For You?
Regular dental visits are important. Research suggests that treating gum disease can help improve and control blood sugar levels in those living with diabetes, thus decreasing the progression and effects of the disease.
If you’re living with diabetes, you already know that managing it is a lifelong commitment. Hopefully you also know (or you do now) the importance of proper dental care and how closely connected the condition of your mouth is to the rest of the body. There’s more to it than watching what you put it in your mouth. You also need to take special care of your mouth itself. If you do, your efforts will be rewarded with a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
At Elden Street Dental Care serving Herndon, Reston, Great Falls, Chantilly, Sterling and Dulles, Virginia. Call 703.689.2480 for an appointment today