Ask a Complete Health Dentist Office: What do Peridontal Disease and Diabetes Have in Common?

According to a complete health dentist, periodontal disease and diabetes are linked together. Diabetes is a disease that limits the body's ability to process foods consumed into energy. Periodontal disease is an infection of the bone and gum tissues that keep teeth in place. It occurs when oral bacteria make their way into gum tissues. It leads to inflammation which causes damage to tissues in the mouth in the long run.

Diabetes and gum disease have an interesting relationship with each other. People who have gum disease are more likely to have problems controlling their blood sugar, while those with diabetes are more vulnerable to periodontal disease.

A complete health dentist explores the link between periodontal disease and diabetes

Diabetes leads to blood vessels changing. These vessels often thicken as a result of diabetes and that restricts the removal of waste and the flow of nutrients to tissues all over the body. The reduced blood flow can weaken a person's bones and gums. This increases the risk of developing gum disease.

Complete health dentists say that poorly controlled diabetes can lead to higher blood sugar levels in a person's mouth. Oral bacteria thrive in sugary environments and they excrete acids that can damage teeth. These germs also create plaque and tartar, the leading causes of gum disease.

Conversely, an infection caused by periodontal disease can raise a person's blood sugar, making it harder for them to keep their diabetes under control.

Smoking is a risk factor that both conditions share. Most people are aware that smoking is bad for overall health, but many are not aware it is one of the common risk factors for gum disease. A diabetic who smokes has a higher risk of developing periodontal disease than one who does not. Such factors combined with poor oral hygiene increase the risk of developing gum disease.

Symptoms of gum disease

Complete health dentists warn that it can be difficult to spot the early stages of gum disease. That is unfortunate since good oral hygiene and teeth cleanings are often enough to reverse the condition at this stage. Here are some of the signs and symptoms that come with periodontal disease:

• Tender and swollen gums
• Receding gums
• Spaces developing between teeth
• Loose teeth
• Bleeding gums
• Awful taste in the mouth or bad breath

Treating gum disease

Diabetes weakens the immune system and that increases the risk of infection during treatments for gum disease. The complete health dentist will also go over the patient's dental history and any medications they are currently taking.

Dentists typically diagnose gum disease by examining gum pockets with a probe and using x-rays to search for damage to bone tissues. Treatments like root scaling and planing can then be administered.

Get gum disease under control

Call or visit our Coral Gables clinic to learn more about the relationship between diabetes and gum disease. Our complete health dentists are here to help. 

Request an appointment here: https://www.bushdidsmiles.com or call Bushdid Smiles at (305) 740-1443 for an appointment in our Coral Gables office.

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