If you’re part of the 29.1 million people in the United States with diabetes, you probably already know about the damage in can inflict on your kidneys, your heart, and your eyes. But did you know it could also be hurting your smile? To celebrate National Diabetes Month, take a few moments to learn why your dentist in Greenfield is concerned about diabetes.
What Does It Mean When You Have Diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when blood sugar levels are too high. Blood sugar is also called glucose, and it’s your body’s main source of energy. Your cells absorb glucose with the help of a hormone called insulin. If the body doesn’t make enough insulin or (more commonly) doesn’t interact with insulin correctly, the glucose will stay in the bloodstream and cause issues throughout the body.
How Does Diabetes Affect the Mouth?
Patients with diabetes are more prone to suffer from periodontal disease, a condition where bacteria in your mouth have infected your gums. Poor blood sugar control has a negative impact on your immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off the bacteria. As the infection gets worse and worse, it can eventually become periodontitis, which destroys the bone in your jaw and could cause you to lose your teeth.
In many cases, diabetes can also stop you from producing a healthy amount of saliva, leading to dry mouth. This increases the risk of plaque buildup and cavities because there’s less saliva to get rid of oral bacteria and debris from the food you eat. Dry mouth could also lead to thrush, which is a fungal infection caused by yeast. Overall, uncontrolled diabetes makes it more likely that you’ll have to call your emergency dentist in Greenfield.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Smile If You Have Diabetes?
Above everything else, you need to keep your diabetes under control by keeping an eye on your blood sugar level and following your general doctor’s instructions. Well-managed diabetes is much less likely to have an impact on your oral health.
Beyond that, it’s important to make sure your giving your teeth and gums proper dental care by:
- Brushing at least twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. (An electric toothbrush might help if you have arthritis or a similar condition that can make brushing a challenge.)
- Flossing daily to remove plaque between the teeth and under the gumline.
- Avoiding cigarettes.
- Having at least two dental checkups in Greenfield a year.
Managing your diabetes and good oral hygiene are both long-term commitments. Always make the extra effort to address potential problems before they have a chance to become too severe; do that, and you’ll be able to enjoy your healthy grin for years to come.
About the Practice
At BGH Dental, we treat our patients like family and can offer a wide variety of dental treatment options under one roof using state-of-the-art technology. We can perform regular screenings to help you catch and treat the early signs of gum disease before irreversible damage is done. To schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (413) 772-0842.