If you have diabetes, you are likely to have dental issues like gum disease and cavities. The risk is even higher if you are over 50 since oral health problems and age walks hand in hand, whether you have diabetes or not. Controlling diabetes will be a contribution towards practicing your gums and teeth. Moreover, it will also help manage your diabetes.
ORAL ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH DIABETES
The critical connection between diabetes and dental issues is high blood sugar. If left uncontrolled, high sugar weakens WBC (white blood cells), which is the most crucial defense against bacterial diseases that also occurs in the mouth. Your oral health issues will most probably increase if the blood sugar is left uncontrolled. However, it is good to get help from dentists in Kitchener if you find any oral health problems.
Controlling blood sugar reduces the chances of major organ complications like heart, nerve, and eye damage. Similarly, controlling can also prevent the spreading of extreme oral issues. If you are a diabetic patient, look out for your oral health conditions, mainly when you are above 50.
Diabetic patients often have a higher risk of these issues.
Gingivitis
Gum disease is a common dental issue among diabetic patients. Gingivitis is the initial stage of gum disease when the bacteria lead your gums to soreness, redness, and bleeding. Bacterial microbes settle on sugar and turn into tooth-damaging acid. Excessive diabetes entails more sugar increasingly in the saliva, which is a free feast for bacteria. Bacteria blend with saliva and bits of leftover items and form plaque. The build-up of plaque leads to cavities and gum disease. Regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing the mouth with a suitable antiseptic mouthwash can help you prevent gingivitis.
Periodontitis
Overlooking gingivitis can lead to periodontitis, one of the severe cases of gum disease. Periodontitis wears away the bone and tissues that support the teeth. If things get worse, you might need to remove your teeth. If you do not adequately clean your teeth, bacteria and plaque will pile up, detaching the gums. It further generates holes where bacterial germs lodge and wage their fight on an increasing amount of portions of your mouth, particularly the bones.
Brushing and flossing is not enough to cure periodontitis. If you feel you might have any such issue, visit local dentists in Kitchener. A dentist’s involvement is crucial. If needed, like if oral surgery is required, your dentist may recommend you an experienced periodontist.
Dry Mouth
Age and diabetes both slow down the production of saliva, which leads to dry mouth. Saliva generates enzymes that fight bacteria. A dry mouth can result in sores and blisters, including tooth decay and gum issues.
Infection
It is not the bacteria only that like sugar. Fungi is also an organism that likes sugar, so fungal yeast infection is common in diabetic patients. The condition can cause red or white patches inside your mouth on the tongue and cheeks. If you smoke, take antibiotics, or wear dentures, you are more likely to get a fungal yeast infection. The yeast shoots up on the excessive sugar present in the saliva, particularly in the moist spots like beneath the loosely fitted dentures. Fungal yeast infection is not the only sort of mouth infection that can put you at risk. There are various other types of disease.
Burning Mouth Syndrome
Dry mouth and fungal yeast infection both can result in burning mouth syndrome. So can various other medications like for high blood pressure. Apart from the feeling like you have burnt your mouth with hot coffee, your mouth can also tingle or feel numb. You might even lose a few of your taste senses. Indeed, aging can also be responsible for losing the ability to taste. Losing taste sense is not harmful unless you don’t add excess sugar to your meals to compensate for the lack of taste. The more sugar you take, the higher chance you have of gum disease and cavities.
Slow Wound Healing
Infections and wounds take considerably more time to heal, which is the side-effect of diabetes and aging. On the other hand, the risk of disease enhances. However, you will visit the best surgeon dentist for oral surgery Kitchener if required. It will take considerably longer to get better; it might also go worse quicker if you don’t follow the instructions properly.
It is useful if you can maintain your blood sugar. Besides, regular brushing, flossing, and rinsing with a suitable mouthwash will prevent most teeth and gum-related diseases. If you feel any discomfort while speaking, smiling, or eating, immediately visit your dentist and get your teeth and gums checked.
