Diabetes is a challenge that a diabetic has to rise to conquer everyday.
Diabetes is a silent disease that affects the whole body on different levels. Diabetes is mainly of 2 types :
- Type 1 Diabetes : Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease which needs insulin to control blood sugar levels.
- Type 2 Diabetes : Type 2 Diabetes is a disease which happens because of insulin levels or quality.
Diabetes effects are visible on complete body in various ways
Diabetes may show signs like :
- Frequent feeling of being thirsty
- Frequent urination
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
Diabetes affects your oral health too
Dry Mouth
A diabetic person produces less amount of saliva. This may also be due to certain medicines that one is taking. Adequate amount of saliva is important to maintain good oral health.
Denture wearers may have problems while using the denture due to less saliva. They may face more chances of having ulcers. One may need saliva substitutes to overcome this problem.
Dental Decay
Saliva washes off the food lodged on teeth. Due to less saliva, diabetics are more susceptible to dental decay. Surface caries near the gum line are seen very often in diabetics. The dental decay if unattended leads to dental infection. Dental infection increases blood sugar levels. Increased blood sugar levels further increases the dental infection.
Gum Diseases
Gum infection is more prevalent in diabetics with uncontrolled blood sugar. High blood sugar levels provide an environment which makes bacteria grow rapidly. The increased bacterial load thereby increases blood sugar levels which makes it difficult to treat gum problems.
It is possible to get ahead of dental problems in diabetics by taking some simple precautions :
- Teeth cleaning : getting a regular 6 monthly teeth cleaning reduces the chances of gum diseases. The gum tissues remain healthy and help in controlling the gum diseases.
- Timely dental treatment : timely dental treatment will make sure that the dental problem is resolved on time before it advances to dental infection.
- Regular dental check ups : dental problems can be caught before they advance.
- Oral hygiene maintenance : brushing twice daily, flossing everyday and rinsing after every meal will help in keeping oral hygiene in good shape.
- Controlling blood sugar : having controlled blood sugar levels decreases the chances of dental problems.
Dental problems and diabetes go hand in hand but together we can be ahead of them and not let them affect lives.
