One of the main reasons why you should start treating diabetes once it is detected is because it can impact your entire body, including your gums and teeth. If you want to prevent gum disease, cavities and other dental problems, it’s time you take charge of your dental health. Visit a reputable dental clinic in your town, like Cornerhouse Dental Care in Borehamwood, to assess your dental condition. All their dentists have years of experience in the industry and can explain how regular brushing and flossing will help with diabetes. The importance of dental care increases drastically if you have high blood sugar level.
There are various types of bacteria in your mouth. Plaque can form on your teeth once the sugars and starches present in beverages and foods interact with those bacteria. Acid present in plaque can attack your teeth surface and damage the dentine and enamel. Tooth decay and cavities are two common dental issues you might face if you have a high sugar level. Your mouth will have a greater supply of starches and sugars and the acid will damage your teeth surface.
Since diabetes reduces your ability to fight the bacteria in your mouth, it can lead to early gum disease, which is known asgingivitis. Plaque can harden under your gumline if you fail to remove them through regular brushing and flossing. As the plaque becomes hard, it turns into tartar or dental calculus. The part of the gum surrounding the base of the teeth might get irritated if you allow tartar and plaque to remain on them for a long time. Over time, the gums become swollen and start bleeding.
Diabetic patients are more prone to suffer from periodontitis or advanced gum diseases. If gingivitis is left untreated, it can lead toperiodontitis. This is a severe infection of the gums which destroys the soft tissue and more importantly the bone supporting the teeth. Periodontitis can pull away the teeth from the jawbone and gums. As a result, the teeth can loosen and fall out. There is a higher chance for you to develop advanced gum diseases if you have high blood sugar levels as it reduces your ability to resist infection.
Diabetes can also lead to a lack of saliva in your mouth. The condition is known as dry mouth or xerostomia. Keeping your mouth moist becomes a challenging task in the absence of saliva. The risk of gum disease, tooth decay and thrush also increases drastically in such conditions. If you want to prevent dry mouth, practicing good oral hygiene is a must. Get in touch with a reputable dentist at Cornerhouse Dental Care and they will let you know the various causes of dry mouth.
There is a higher chance for you to damage your teeth and gums if you have diabetes. It is therefore advisable to practice proper dental care. It is your responsibility to manage your diabetes. The best way you can monitor your blood sugar level is by following the doctor’s instructions. The chances of developing gingivitis and other dental problems will reduce if you can keep your blood sugar under control. Dentists advice brushing your teeth atleast twice every day. Brush once in the morning and at night after your meals and snacks. Since vigorous scrubbing can irritate your gums, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride-containing toothpaste.
Since you are now aware of the common dental issues diabetic patients can face, get in touch with Cornerhouse Dental Care today.