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Are Diabetes and Dental Health Connected?

added on: September 5, 2019
diabetes concept

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a report showing that more than 100 million adults in the United States are living with diabetes or prediabetes. Type 2 diabetes can have a huge impact on your overall health, but did you know it could also potentially trigger oral health issues such as gum disease, dry mouth, and thrush.

Your Wilmington holistic dentist thought it would be a good idea to take a more in-depth look at the connection between your oral health and diabetes, with tips to help protect your teeth and gums from issues down the road.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is directly related to your blood sugar or glucose and how your body uses it for energy. It also directly affects your pancreas, the organ that’s responsible for releasing insulin to open your body’s cells so glucose can come in and give them the energy they need to keep you going healthy and active.

Diabetes doesn’t want your pancreas to do its job, and you don’t have the proper release of insulin. This can cause blood sugar to accumulate, leading to everything from acute to chronic issues with your health.

Diabetes and Gum Disease

Unfortunately, diabetes has been known to do some damage to your teeth and mouth too. It can all come down to your body’s white blood cells. When your blood sugar levels are elevated due to uncontrolled diabetes, it weakens your white blood cells, which are the body’s main defense against nasty bacterial infections. It’s not uncommon for your Wilmington holistic dentist to see diabetes patients struggling with gum disease, decay, cavities, and other issues.

If you wait to take care of these issues, especially gum disease where infections can cause your teeth to become loose or even fall out, the bacteria that causes this destruction can even cause problems in the rest of your body if it makes its way into your bloodstream.

What Changes in My Mouth Should I Lookout For

One of the trickiest things about how diabetes affects your oral health is that it’s not always easy to see or detect. That’s why it’s essential to maintain your regular visits to our holistic dental office in Wilmington. In the early stages, the changes are very subtle, so only a trained eye would be able to spot them. However, there are some warning signs you can be on the lookout for a while taking care of your teeth at home.

  • Bloody gums after brushing and flossing
  • Permanent teeth become loose
  • Bad breath that won’t go away
  • Changes in your bite

If you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with diabetes, it’s essential to work with your Wilmington holistic dentist, who has the experience, expertise, and tools to make sure your smile is protected. We’re here to partner with you to make sure diabetes doesn’t take over your life (and your smile.) Call us today to schedule a visit!

About The Author
Dr. Lewis Yu

Dr. Lewis Yu, who graduated with a dental degree, completed a two-year postgraduate oral surgery training in New York City and Pennsylvania. Board-certified in Naturopathic Medicine and Integrated Biological Dental Medicine, he practiced in Philadelphia and New Jersey before joining All About Smiles. Dr. Yu is affiliated with the Holistic Dental Association and Talkinternational.com.


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