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Posted on 2/15/2020 by Dr. Elizabeth Vivona |
 When you suffer from diabetes, your body's ability to process sugar gets affected. The food you eat is turned into sugar, which the body uses for energy. There are two types of diabetes- Type I diabetes and Type II diabetes. For type I diabetes patients, the body fails to produce enough insulin to carry the blood sugar to the body cells. In the latter, the body simply stops responding to insulin. In either case, you will experience an increase in blood sugar levels. This not only your heart, kidney, nerves, and eyes, but also your oral health. How Diabetes Affects Your Oral HealthHigh blood sugar levels are the cause of oral health issues you will experience when you have diabetes. The white blood cells are weakened by the presence of too much sugar in the blood. As a result, your mouth will be unable to fight off oral bacterial infections. If you are suffering from diabetes, you are at risk of facing the following oral health issues. Dry MouthWhen uncontrolled, diabetes decreases the production of saliva in the mouth and results in dry mouth. You are likely to feel constantly thirsty. Dry mouth can cause mouth ulcers, soreness, tooth decay, and oral infections. Gingivitis And PeriodontitisGingivitis means inflammation of the gums while periodontitis is an infection that results in the gum soft tissues and bones that support the teeth being damaged. The two infections are very common in diabetes patients. Diabetes thickens the blood vessels and slows down the ability of the blood to transport nutrients to and waste products from body tissues. In the end, the gums become vulnerable to bacterial attacks and you might experience frequent cases of these gum diseases. In the event of oral surgery, healing also becomes difficult because blood flow to the affected area is reduced. This can further complicate your oral health. Frequent Cases Of Oral ThrushIf you are on any antibiotics when you have diabetes, you are at a higher risk of developing oral fungal infections. This is because the fungi in the antibiotic medications thrive on the high levels of sugar in the saliva. Diabetes patients who constantly wear dentures are also at risk of developing fungal infections. Furthermore, smoking increases the possibility of oral thrush in diabetes patients. Oral thrush may result in a burning feeling in the mouth and tongue. If you are suffering from diabetes, then it is advisable for you to schedule regular visits to our dental clinics. We will help you reduce the possibility of suffering from these oral health issues just because of your condition. Get in touch with us to schedule your first checkup. |
