Dental Care for Diabetics: Treatments and Prevention Tips
Here at Dental Associates of New England, we've helped numerous patients deal with serious dental health matters. This is one of the many reasons why we are one of the most trusted and advanced dental care centers in the Boston area.
We'd like to use this blog post to examine the dental care challenges of patients who suffer from diabetes. In addition to general wellness issues, diabetic patients face some significant dental health concerns.
Gum Disease More Likely for Diabetics
Diabetics are more likely to suffer from infections than non-diabetics, which means that they are at much greater risk of developing gum disease. Gum disease is the bacterial infection of the gum tissue. There are three different stages: gingivitis, periodontitis, advanced periodontitis. At its earliest stages, gum disease causes bleeding gums, irritated gums, bad breath, and swollen gums.
As gum disease progresses, the symptoms and effects become far worse. If not treated in a timely fashion, gum disease can lead to gum recession, tooth misalignment, tooth loss, and
Tooth Decay Often More Serious in Diabetics
Due to issues with blood sugar, diabetics often experience a greater chance of serious tooth decay than non-diabetics. Because of this, people with diabetes need to be especially mindful of eating right and keeping their teeth clean. Proper oral hygiene is crucial to keeping your teeth free from decay and preventing the formation of cavities.
Dry Mouth Another Serious Problem to Consider
In addition to gum disease and tooth decay, diabetics are also more likely to suffer from dry mouth. This simply means the lack of saliva in the mouth, leading the mouth to dry mouth. Dry mouth can be quite annoying, causing you to experience issues with eating and speaking. In addition, dry mouth can also exacerbate bad breath and accelerate the progress of both gum disease and tooth decay.
Dealing with Thrush
Thrush refers to a yeast infection that can affect the mouth as well as other parts of the body. This fungal infection can be quite nasty, and diabetics run a greater risk of developing thrush than non-diabetics.
Prevention and Treatment at Home
The best way to prevent a number of these dental problems is to consider the following tips:
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Monitor Your Blood Sugar – Diabetics should monitor their blood sugar and take any medications as instructed by their doctor. Keeping blood sugar under control can improve general wellness as well as dental health.
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Brush Your Teeth at Least Twice a Day – It's a good idea to brush your teeth at least twice a day to remove food particles and prevent tooth decay. Ideally you should consider brushing your teeth after every meal.
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Floss at Least Once a Night – Flossing is also crucial for removing food particles and preventing tooth decay. Floss at least once a night, though ideally you should consider flossing after every meal.
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Hydrate by Drinking Water – One way to help fight off dry mouth is to stay properly hydrated throughout the day. Rather than drinking soda or juice, do your best to stick to water. It will also help keep your mouth cleaner.
Visit Your Dentist Regularly
Diabetics should visit their dentists twice a year for regular checkups. This is a crucial part of having a healthy and beautiful smile, and just seeing a dentist twice a year can have a major impact on your overall health and wellness. If you haven't seen a dentist in a while, be sure to schedule a visit in the near future.
Learn More About Your Dental Care Needs
For more information about advanced dental care to treat health issues related to diabetes, be sure to contact our cosmetic and restorative dentistry center today. The entire team at Dental Associates of New England looks forward to your visit and helping you achieve a healthy and beautiful smile.
