The Link Between Diabetes and Gum Disease

The Link Between Diabetes and Gum DiseasePeople living with diabetes know that it can take a toll on their entire body, and your mouth is no exception. If your diabetes is poorly controlled, it can increase your risk of developing a variety of dental problems including gum disease, also called periodontal disease. As a result, people with high blood sugar need to take especially good care of their teeth and mouths to protect their oral health.

One of the best things you can do to keep your mouth healthy is schedule regular visits to see Dr. Bradley Dean. We provide comprehensive periodontal care services at our office in Plano, TX. If you are dealing with periodontal problems related to diabetes, we can help.

What Is Gum Disease?

As the number one cause of tooth loss for adults, gum disease is extremely common, but also highly preventable with good dental care. Gingivitis is the mildest form of periodontal disease and can cause your gums to become red, swollen and prone to bleeding easily.

Without proper treatment, gingivitis can progress to become periodontitis, a much more destructive infection. Periodontitis attacks gum tissue and can spread to the bones that support teeth. This can cause teeth to become loose and eventually fall out.

What is the Link Between Diabetes and Gum Disease?

High blood sugar weakens your body’s ability to fight off bacteria, making you more vulnerable to infections of all kinds, including gum disease. As a result, people who have uncontrolled diabetes develop gum disease more often and more severely than those who don’t. Serious infections such as periodontitis can also cause your blood sugar to rise. This means that not only can unmanaged diabetes make you more likely to develop gum disease, but gum disease can make your diabetes harder to control.

How Can You Protect Your Health?

In order to prevent gum disease, you need to control your blood sugar levels and maintain good dental care. Exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and other healthy lifestyle habits can make it easier to manage your diabetes. In order to keep your mouth healthy, it’s important to brush and floss regularly, as well as making routine visits to see your dental care providers.

Schedule An Appointment

Keeping your gums healthy when you have diabetes can be difficult, but Dr. Dean can help. Schedule a consultation to see what he can do for you.