Diabetes
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Untreated gum disease can raise blood sugar levels and make it challenging to control your blood glucose levels. As oral bacteria spread through bleeding gums into your bloodstream, they play a negative effect on your body, such as naturally increasing blood glucose readings.
Nearly 1 in 5 adults with diabetes will suffer from total tooth loss, due to its link to periodontal disease.
Unfortunately, the two conditions go hand in hand. You can’t afford to focus on your diabetes without also scheduling routine checkups with your dental provider. A worsening periodontal infection can negatively affect your diabetic care, as well as vice versa. As a result, the intense strain on your immune system can raise your chances of medical complications such as diabetic induced heart disease, kidney disease, and retinopathy.
Study after study shows that treating gum disease with appropriate dental cleanings can help to stabilize blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. And as blood sugars are stabilized, the same individuals see an improvement in their periodontal conditions. The two-way connection means that treating diabetes and periodontitis should be done jointly, rather than separately.
Gum disease isn’t the only oral risk factor for people with diabetes. The medical condition can also contribute to dental issues like dry mouth, which in turn elevates their risk of getting tooth decay.
The treatment for periodontal disease is not much different if you have diabetes. However, it’s important to communicate your blood glucose levels to your dentist. Depending on the severity of the gum infection, preventative cleanings or a series of deep cleanings (scaling and root planing) are likely.
As your gum inflammation and bleeding improves, your blood glucose levels should stabilize. The most important thing to remember is that you’ll need a comprehensive care plan that addresses both conditions at the same time, rather than focusing on one over the other.