Dr. Vishaj S. Maru
Dental Practitioner
Mumbai
Diabetes is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. The hormone insulin moves sugar from the blood into the cells to be stored or used for energy. With diabetes, body either doesn’t make enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin. Whether you have type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes, managing your blood sugar level is key.
The higher blood sugar level, the higher is the risk.
When you have diabetes, high blood sugar can take a toll on your entire body including teeth and gums. The most common oral health problems affecting people with diabetes are:
With increased blood glucose levels, individual may have more glucose in their saliva and very dry mouths. These conditions allow dental plaque to build up on teeth, which leads to TOOTH DECAY AND CAVITIES.
Diabetes reduces your ability to fight bacteria. If plaque is not removed with regular brushing and flossing, it’ll harden under the gum line into a substance called tartar (dental calculus). The longer plaque and tartar remain on the teeth, the more they irritate the gums. Gums become swollen and bleed easily. Which is called GINGIVITIS.
PERIODONTITIS tends to be more severe among people who have diabetes because diabetes lowers the ability to resist infection and slows healing. An infection such as periodontitis may also cause your blood sugar level to rise, which in turn makes your diabetes more difficult to control. Preventing and treating periodontitis with regular dental cleanings can help improve blood sugar control. Thus gingivitis can lead to a more serious infection called periodontitis, which destroys the bone and soft tissues that support your teeth. Eventually, periodontitis cause your teeth to loosen and possibly fall out.
People with diabetes may be more likely to develop ORAL THRUSH, which is a fungal infection caused by the yeast Candida Albicans. Signs of thrush include painful white or red patches inside your mouth. Maintaining a good oral hygiene can help you avoid thrush.
TASTE DISTURBANCES is a critical component of oral health that is affected adversely in patients with diabetes. This sensory dysfunction can inhibit the ability to maintain a proper diet and can lead to poor glycaemic regulation.
