Diabetes and dental problems.
Dental problems can occur to any person but  they are
more likely to happen in people suffering from diabetes. In some cases, the first signs of the
disease appear in the mouth.
Normally, a thin layer of organic substances is created on our teeth and gums. This film
is called plaque and it is consisted from remaining traces of foods or drinks we have
during the day. Good daily brushing and flossing removes the plaque and sustains good
oral health. Overtime, a hard porous material, which is referred to as tartar, builds up
around our teeth by the gum line. Some times tartar is not apparent but it can develop
inside the gum itself. Good mouth hygiene and a three or six monthly scaling at our
dentist’s office are the best options to prevent problems that tartar may
cause.
Both plaque and tartar are ideal environments for hosting and development of huge
bacterial populations which attack our teeth and –the most important- our gums.
These bacteria can make the gum to shrink by infecting and disintegrating the underlying
bone. This condition is call gum disease or periodontitis. If the problem is neglected
and not been dealt in time, teeth get loose because of lack of adequate support and the
loss of them is inevitable.
In diabetics, high blood glucose levels
combined with bad oral hygiene increases the reproduction rates of bacteria dramatically
with devastating effects on the gum. In other words, if you suffer from diabetes, you may
get gum disease far easier. In order to prevent this, very good mouth hygiene is
essential and you may need more thorough dental care. Your dentist will advise you,
whether you need t more frequent check ups and scaling or not. If you have one or more of
the following symptoms, see your dentist as soon as possible, especially if you have been
diagnosed with diabetes.
 Your gums are red, tender,
bleeding or swollen.
You present receding gums that
result in exposure of the roots of your teeth.
Your teeth are getting
sensitive or progressively loose.
One or more teeth are painful
in pressure.
Your bite doesn’t feel
to be correct as it used to be.
You are experiencing a
prolonged period of bad breath.
Your denture doesn’t fit
properly as it used to do.
Bear in mind that if you are a heavy smoker, you have nearly 30% increased chances to be
affected by gum disease.
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