Diabetes and Gum Disease

If you have diabetes and are having difficulty controlling your blood sugar maybe your dentist can help.  Having gum disease can raise your blood sugar making  it more difficult to control, and it just so happens that having diabetes increases the risk of having gum disease. Just by having your teeth cleaned you can cause a drop in your blood sugar levels. This decrease is related to a reduction of inflammation of the gum tissue caused by food accumulation.

The improvement of your health goes way beyond blood sugar levels as studies have shown that people with both severe gum disease and diabetes were over three times more likely to die of heart or kidney disease then those with diabetes alone.                 

Recent research has also found links between gum disease and other systemic illnesses such as heart disease, strokes and pancreatic cancer.

Gum disease is often characterized by red, swollen or bleeding gums (no! bleeding from your mouth is not normal) or by gum recession or bad breath.

Persons with diabetes should have their teeth cleaned and examined at least twice a year by a dental professional.

Taking good care of your teeth and gums can result in longer healthier life. What are you waiting for?

Mitchell Shapiro DDS, FAGD, PC
The Center For Cosmetic Dentistry-Smithtown, NY