Oral
Health Care for Diabetics
Regular dental checkups
are very important for patients with diabetes to manage the oral complications
of their disease. In fact, severe gum disease in patients with diabetes
makes them twice as likely to die from kidney failure or heart disease,
according to a recent study. Researchers speculate that when the gums
pull far away from the teeth due to severe gum disease, harmful bacteria
from the mouth are allowed to enter the bloodstream, affecting these
organs.
In addition to
gum disease, which is the most common oral health condition related
to diabetes, other mouth problems include oral infections, fungal infections,
and dry mouth, which may be a side effect of diabetes medication or
high blood sugar.
This is why it
is critical that patients with diabetes should take an active role in
their oral health care. If you are a diabetic you should brush your
teeth twice a day and clean between your teeth daily with floss, visiting
the dentist more frequently, if indicated, to keep gum disease under
control, tell your dentist you have diabetes and let the dentist know
of any problems with infections or trouble keeping their blood sugar
under control, schedule dental appointments for the morning and remember
to eat and take your insulin prior to your dental appointment if applicable.
