The Oral Health – Diabetes Connection
Over the past decade, extensive research has been conducted on the connection between periodontal disease and diabetes. Being in the number 6 spot on the list of most prevalent complications prompted by diabetes, periodontal disease is a highly risky threat to the health of those who have received a diabetes diagnosis. This means that diabetics have up to four times higher chances of experiencing infection of the gums and extreme bone loss.
A brief overview of diabetes
A gravely serious disease, diabetes occurs to those whose bodies don’t properly use insulin or product it at all. Insulin is a hormone that is necessary in order for your body to convert starches, sugar and other types of foods into energy.
Typically, getting sugar from your blood to the cells in your body is the function performed by insulin. This is how energy is derived from it. Those with this disease have difficulty using or making insulin so their bodies are under-fueled. This causes the blood sugar to remain far too high which triggers processes that prompt further complications; among them are problems with the kidney, heart, or eyes.
Diabetes is very common affecting an estimated 20 plus million U.S. children and adults. The particularly frightening part about this disease is that it is also estimated that there are six million people who are unaware that they have diabetes.
Some of the sigs of diabetes are: urinating often; constantly feeling hungry or thirsty; blurred vision insistent fatigue; wounds that don’t heal quickly or well; dry, itchy skin; dry mouth; numbness or tingling in the feet or hands.
However, many people don’t notice any of these signs or symptoms. They mistakenly live with these symptoms and conditions as if they are normal and usual. This neglect helps explain why 6 million people don’t know they have diabetes.
A brief overview of periodontal disease
In simple terms this is gum disease. It’s an infection of the gums, the bone that supports the teeth which keep them in your jaw, and ligaments. If neglected, you can begin to lose some of your teeth. Caused primarily by bacterial plaque, which is a very adhesive microbial film without color, periodontal disease irritates the gums and causes infection due to the toxic bacteria in the plaque.
The relationship between managing diabetes and treating periodontal disease
Controlling your blood sugar can be made more challenging if you have periodontal disease. That’s because the way a body reacts to periodontal disease can increase the level of blood sugar in the body. So, this means that diabetics have to treat periodontal disease diligently and eliminate the infection so they can optimally manage their diabetes. Treating periodontal disease involves antibiotics which – when fully treated – have contributed to improving the levels of blood sugar in diabetics. In effect, this means that when periodontal disease is effectively treated, insulin requirements can be decreased.
For more information regarding anything related to your oral health, give Dr. Apsey of Smile Brightly Dental a call today! We are located in Warren, MI and we can be reached at 586-573-7700!