Good oral hygiene vital in diabetics

Happiness is your dentist telling you it won’t hurt and then having him catch his hand in the drill. — Johnny Carson

I have had dental issues for a few years, but it’s not because I didn’t take care of my teeth. And most of the problems seemed to start around the time that, I think, I became diabetic.

I don’t know how long I had diabetes before I was diagnosed, and even then I did not realize that having diabetes and high blood sugar could damage my teeth.

But the good thing is that prevention is in our hands. We can learn what we are up against and take charge of our dental health.

I found comprehensive information on the websites of the Mayo Clinic (mayoclinic.org), the American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org) and the American Dental Association (ada.org) about diabetics and dental health. It opened my eyes — let it open yours.

According to the dental association, the warning signs of dental problems for a diabetic can include:

Less saliva, which causes the mouth to feel dry. Since saliva protects your teeth, you will be at higher risk for cavities. But dry mouth can also be caused by medications. Problems tasting food Delayed wound healing in the mouth

Being more susceptible to infections inside the mouth

I found it interesting that in children with diabetes, the teeth may erupt at an earlier age than normal.

Our mouths naturally contain many types of bacteria. When starches and sugars in food and beverages interact with the bacteria, the sticky film known as plaque forms on our teeth. The acids in plaque attack the surfaces of the teeth, the enamel and dentin, which can lead to cavities.

Diabetes reduces our ability to fight bad bacteria. If we don’t remove plaque with regular brushing and flossing, it will harden under the gum line into a substance called tartar. (It’s also often called calculus.)

The longer tartar remains on the teeth the more irritated the gingiva get. That’s the part of the gums around the base of the teeth. In time, the gums become swollen and bleed easily. That is called gingivitis.

Left untreated, gingivitis can lead to a more serious infection called periodontitis. It destroys the soft tissue and bone that support your teeth and eventually causes the gums and jawbone to pull away from the teeth, which in turn causes the teeth to loosen and possibly fall out.

Periodontitis tends to be more severe in diabetics because the diabetes tends to lower the body’s ability to resist infection and slows healing. The infection can cause blood sugar levels to rise, which then makes our diabetes harder to control.

The bottom line is that preventing and treating periodontitis can help improve blood sugar control.

The first thing is to do what we’ve been told for years and have a dental checkup every six months, or as often as the dentist recommends. Make sure to tell the dentist that you have diabetes.

Brush twice a day with a soft brush and floss correctly daily. Brush two minutes each time, using a toothpaste accepted by the American Dental Association.

Contact your dentist if you experience gums that bleed, or are red, puffy, swollen and sore, or gums that have pulled away from the teeth.

Report changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite, any infection that appears between your teeth and gums, and if you have constant bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth. Avoid smoking. And if you wear any type of denture, clean it daily.

Using diabetes-related medications as directed, changing to a healthier diet and exercise can help control blood sugar levels. Managing blood sugar will also help fight bacterial or fungal infections in the mouth and help relieve dry mouth.