Diabetes and Gum Disease: A Two-Way Street

happy middle aged man testing his blood sugar

Gum Disease

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), half Americans struggle with gum diseases. As the name implies, Gum disease starts with gum inflammation, and it might have several reasons. If you don’t treat gum disease, it will become a serious problem so never take it lightly. Gum diseases also increase the risk of numerous health problems besides tooth issues.

Generally, we have two types of gum diseases: Gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis begins with inflammation due to different reasons such as genetics or hormonal changes, lifestyle, certain medications, and health issues. If you don’t treat this condition, it will turn into periodontitis, the more severe type of gum disease. The plaque will become tartar and result in pockets. The pockets can get infected, making your bone and gum pull away from the teeth.

Diabetes

It might sound insane, but ten percent of Americans have diabetes. Many diabetic people are not even aware of this problem. It happens when your body can’t take up glucose in its cells, and sugar builds up in your blood.

Insulin-producing cells are destroyed in type 1 diabetes, which is considered an autoimmune disorder. It develops at any age but is more diagnosed in children and young adults. Insulin is required to be taken every day by people with Diabetes type1.

The most common type of diabetes is type 2, usually in older people. Your cells do not respond to Insulin in this type. There is a Prediabetes stage before Type 2 diabetes. In other words, your blood sugar is higher than normal but not as high as they are in type 2.

Eye problems, nerve damage, foot injuries, kidney impairment, hearing loss, skin infections, and dental problems are just a few problems caused by diabetes. Diabetes symptoms vary based on the type and the reason. Increased thirst, weakness, blurred vision, numbness of fingers and toes, unexpected weight loss, excessive urination, frequent unexplained infections, decreased sexual drive, and dry mouth are the most common symptoms.

Diabetes and Gum Disease: A Two-Way Street

Diabetic Diet

It doesn’t matter if you have the type 1 or type 2, you should have a diet that keeps your blood sugar at a healthy level. By controlling your blood sugar, you can lower the health risks. Diabetic people should avoid foods like sweets, sodas, bread, and white rice. The sugar in the bloodstream comes from carbohydrates we eat. Don’t forget that the right diet for controlling diabetes is not limited to this and includes a variety of healthy foods from all food groups.

Diabetes and Gum Disease

Diabetes and gum diseases have a two-way street: if you have high blood sugar levels, you might face the increased risk of developing gum diseases. On the other hand, if you have gum issues, it could increase blood sugar levels.

If diabetic people don’t take care of their oral health, they are more likely to suffer from gum disease. This link has been identified by The American Dental Association (ADA). A diabetic person can face oral issues in their saliva. The saliva plays an important role in controlling bacterial growth, covering tissues, preventing tooth decay, and keeping your mouth hydrated. Any changes in saliva might lead to a dry mouth, bacteria growing and finally forming plaques. If you don’t remove those plaques, they could lead to gum disease, and high blood sugar levels makes the healing process harder.

An unhealthy blood sugar range increases the chance of experiencing soreness, bad breath, chewing difficulties, or tooth loss. gum disease is the most common oral disorder that diabetic people struggle with. About 25% of people with diabetes experience severe tooth loss in the United States according to the studies.

If you have gum disease, or if you are Diabetic, you can easily control your concern by seeking help from qualified dentists who use the most advanced methods to treat dental issues.

Backed by decades of experience, our professional staff at Aria Dental offers personalized solutions for your oral problems. Here, we are committed to providing the highest standards of dentistry for all oral issues from routine checkups to complex therapies in a convenient environment.

You can find responses to all your dental queries with various services at Aria center. Our dentists tend to save every tooth with same-day emergency care even on Saturdays. If you are in California, you can easily find us in Orange County. If not, look no further. We are with you on phone for a free consultation.

Diabetes and Gum Disease: A Two-Way Street

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