Diabetes and Dental Health:
Caring for Your Teeth and Gums

~ by Jo Jordan

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Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes can be triggered by chronic, low-grade inflammation.¹ So as unlikely as it may seem, inflammation in the oral cavity - especially in the gums - can have a negative effect on blood glucose. High blood sugar levels can lead to gum disease and vice versa. The bottom line…poor diabetes management can increase your risk for gum disease and tooth loss.

The Stats on Diabetes and Dental Disease

Many people may be unaware that adults with diabetes are twice as likely to have problems with their teeth and gums as those without.² People with diabetes often suffer from gum disease, tooth decay, fungal disease, and other mouth problems. Nearly one third of those with diabetes have severe periodontal disease with loss of attachment of the gums to the teeth measuring five millimeters or more.³

How Are Diabetes and Dental Disease Linked?

Diabetics are unable to produce or properly use insulin - a hormone produced by the pancreas that unlocks the cells of the body, enabling glucose to enter and fuel them - so glucose accumulates in the blood. High glucose levels can damage nerves, leading to blood vessel hardening. This can prevent blood from flowing efficiently, impairing circulation as well as the body's ability to fight infection.

When the blood vessels that once adequately supplied oxygen and nutrients to the gums and jawbone cease to function effectively, the gums are more likely to develop infection and/or become loose. Loose gums increase the likelihood of lost teeth. Furthermore, blood sugar is difficult to control when the gums are infected.

Symptoms of Dental Disease

If you notice any of the following symptoms, call your dentist:

A bad taste in your mouth
A change in the way you bite
Bad breath that extends over a long period of time
Gums that shrink or pull away from your teeth (a sign of periodontitis, a disease that attacks the gums and bone around the teeth)
Loose or separating adult teeth
Mouth pain
Sore, swollen, and red gums that bleed when you brush your teeth (a sign of gingivitis or inflammation of the gums)
Trouble chewing

Preventing Dental Disease: Caring for Your Teeth and Gums

People with diabetes are more prone to infection than those without. Controlling blood glucose levels and maintaining healthy teeth and gums work to support one another. Comprehensive dental care goes a long way to preventing dental disease and, by extension, preventing high glucose levels, insulin resistance, and diabetes.

Control blood glucose (sugar) levels

Keep glucose levels as close to the normal range as possible.

Brush your teeth regularly…

…for at least three minutes
at least twice a day
after each meal; and
before going to bed
use a soft toothbrush
with fluoridated toothpaste; and
rinse your toothbrush after each use to prevent bacterial from developing
store toothbrush with the bristle end up; and
replace toothbrush every three months

Floss regularly…

…at least once each day

See a dental professional…

…at least every six months
see a periodontist once a year; and
tell both your dentist and periodontist that you have diabetes

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At the Puristat Digestive Wellness Center™ we stand behind our products one hundred percent. Please take a few miuntes to learn more about our all-natural product line, or if you prefer, call 1-800-492-4984 to speak to one of our Digestive Health Specialists.

Notes:
1. ScienceDaily, "Type 2 Diabetes: Inflammation, Not Obesity, Cause Of Insulin Resistance," November 7, 2007, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071106133106.htm (June 1, 2009).
2. American Diabetes Association, "Complications of Diabetes in the United States," http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-statistics/complications.jsp (June 1, 2009).
3. Ibid