How does diabetes affect your oral health?

India as a nation is well known as the diabetes capital of the world with estimates of the number of people having diabetes ranging from 7-10 % of the entire population, concentrated especially among the urban populace. With such a large number of people having diabetes, it becomes imperative that people understand the effects diabetes has on other parts of the body like teeth or gums and vice versa.

Here, in this article, let us discuss some of the issues related to oral health caused by diabetes:

1) Diabetes increases the risk of presence of cavities:

Diabetes results in people unable to process sugar. This results in the loss of saliva which in turn increases the risk of contraction of cavities.

Saliva plays a major role in reducing the acidity in your mouth and acts as a deterrent against the proliferation of bacteria. Diabetes plays a major role in disturbing this delicate balance of saliva resulting in the proliferation of gums in your mouth.

A drastic reduction in saliva in your mouth is also a good indication of the onset of diabetes.

2) Bacteria present in the mouth can cause respiratory ailments like pneumonia and bronchitis.

There is always a possibility that the bacteria may move further down the esophagus or mix with the blood stream resulting in the contraction of sickness.

3) Diabetes induced gum infection can even cause dementia.

Studies have shown that people with Alzheimer are known to increasingly suffer from oral health issues compared to the general populace. While the studies are not conclusive, it definitely proves that people suffering from diabetes have an increased risk of contracting Alzheimer’s.

This is why it becomes imperative that people suffering from diabetes consume food that is rich in Vitamin D, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12 to offset this issue.

4) Diabetes may even induce oral health ailments like gingivitis due to reduced protection from saliva and a disturbed pH balance in the mouth.

It is a well known fact that periodontal disease is widespread amongst people suffering from diabetes. Age and blood sugar are amongst the main contributors towards increasing the risk of contracting gum disease.

This is why you ought to have good oral hygiene and refer a dentist if you feel that you may have diabetes or already have one.

There is also a very real possibility that oral disease may cause the blood sugar to raise.

5) The presence of diabetes will also delay wound healing.

How to prevent the effect of diabetes on your oral health?

• Avoid smoking
• Maintain a good oral hygiene including regular brushing, flossing and frequent dental visits if you are aware that you suffer from diabetes.
• Control your blood sugar and watch what you eat. Avoid foods like soda and carbs rich substances.
• Obesity, heart disease and cholesterol only increases the effect of diabetes on your oral health. Refer a dentist if you have any of these risk factors.
• Exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet rich in vitamins and proteins.