Reverse Diabetes with a Healthy Smile

Diabetes is a chronic illness that can affect any part of the body, including the mouth. Oral health problems are more common in diabetics than in most of the general population. But, just because someone has diabetes does not mean that they have to live with a sore smile or gum disease. Here are some tips on how to have a healthy smile that can help to reverse your diabetes.

What Is Gum Disease?

​​The gum tissue that surrounds and supports your teeth is infected with gum disease. Gum disease is frequently caused by poor oral hygiene habits, such as failing to brush or floss your teeth properly. The plaque will build up on the teeth if you don’t brush or floss. Plaque is a sticky bacteria that feeds on carbohydrates in your saliva and on your teeth. Without a consistent tooth-brushing regimen, sugars from meals and beverages will remain on the surface of your teeth and gums, providing a breeding ground for harmful bacteria called plaque. Swollen and bleeding gums, pain when biting, dental decay, and tooth loss are all symptoms of gum disease. Gum disease can result in losing teeth.

High blood sugar is the binding factor between diabetes and dental health issues. Oral health concerns are more likely to develop if blood sugar is inadequately controlled. This is due to the fact that uncontrolled diabetes reduces white blood cells, which are the body’s primary defense against bacterial infections in the mouth, resulting in gum disease.

Why Are People With Diabetes More Likely To Have A Unhealthy Smile

The loss of teeth in patients with diabetes is caused by a variety of reasons. Gingivitis and periodontal disease are more likely to develop in patients with uncontrolled diabetes. If the infection isn’t treated, it can spread to the bone that holds the teeth in place. Infections do not heal as quickly in people with diabetes, further complicating the condition.

The good news for diabetics is that by practicing good oral hygiene habits such as brushing at least twice daily (preferably after every meal) with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, flossing daily, and controlling blood sugar levels, the risk of infection from periodontal disease, as well as the risk of tooth loss, can be greatly reduced or eliminated.

How to Prevent Oral Health Problems If You Have Diabetes

• Maintain a blood sugar level that is as close to normal as possible. Inform your dentist about your diabetes condition at every dental appointment. Know your glycosylated hemoglobin (HgA1C) level, for example. If you’ve experienced a low blood sugar episode before, you’re more likely to have another one. Tell your dentist about your most recent incident, how often it happens, and when you last took an insulin dose.

• At least twice a year, have your teeth and gums cleaned and examined by your dentist. Consult your dentist to decide the frequency of your checks.

• Use dental floss at least once a day to prevent plaque accumulation on your teeth.

• After each meal, brush your teeth. Use a toothbrush with a gentle bristle and high-quality fluoride toothpaste.

3M™ Clinpro™ 5000 1.1% Sodium Fluoride Anti-Cavity Toothpaste is a toothpaste that contains professional-grade fluoride and can only be bought from authorized dealers such as Potomac Dental Centre. If interested in purchasing, call us today: (301) 790-2007.

• Remove and clean your dentures on a daily basis if you have them.

• If you smoke, speak with your doctor about quitting methods.

How Oral Health Can Reverse Diabetes

We’ve seen great success in our diabetic patients who have prioritized their oral health. By eliminating the sugars in the mouth, their overall blood sugar level is lowered, giving them their lives back.

Call us today and we’ll help you reverse your diabetes!