How Does Diabetes Affect Teeth and Gums?

Diabetes can affect your body, including your mouth, in various ways. In some cases, oral issues can make diabetes harder to manage. Fortunately, proper oral hygiene, diet, and routine dental check-ups can help prevent oral problems and keep your diabetes under control.

Diabetes and Oral Health

Diabetes is a group of conditions that result in excessive glucose or sugars in the blood. The key concern is that it affects your saliva. Saliva is the fluid that keeps your mouth wet and washes away bacteria, acids, and debris from the mouth, reducing your risk of oral infections like gum disease and decay.

Diabetes and some diabetes medications can affect your salivary glands, causing less saliva production and flaw. Less saliva often leads to a dry mouth and increases your risk of dental cavities, oral thrush, gum infections, and other issues.

When your blood sugars are too high, it can also increase the levels of sugars in the saliva. This high glucose can encourage the growth of harmful bacteria in the mouth, increasing your risk of oral infections.

Common Oral Problems Associated With Diabetes

While not always, diabetes increases your risk of oral issues like:

• Gingivitis

Gum disease is a common oral problem among people with diabetes. Gum disease often develops due to a build-up of plaque ( a film of bacteria) in the mouth. These bacteria deposits irritate and infect the gum tissues, causing inflammation.

Diabetes leads to more sugars in saliva and can cause a dry mouth, encouraging bacteria growth in the mouth and leading to gum disease. The initial stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. At this point, you can experience symptoms like bleeding, soreness, sensitivity, or red gums. Regular brushing and flossing and good hydration can help prevent gingivitis.

• Periodontitis

When left untreated, gingivitis develops into a serious stage known as periodontitis. The infection has spread below the gum line at this stage, infecting the jawbone and other tissues supporting your teeth.

Eventually, you will experience receding gums, loose teeth, or tooth loss, among other complications. Unfortunately, you can’t reverse periodontitis. You might need surgery to restore the health of your gums, teeth, and bone. Treating gingivitis can help prevent periodontitis.

• Tooth decay

Your mouth contains many natural bacteria and germs. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause increased sugars in the saliva, encouraging bacterial plaque and tartar. Over time, these deposits release harmful acids that erode the surfaces of the teeth, leading to dental decay and cavities.

• Dry mouth or xerostomia

Numerous factors like diabetes, old age, pregnancy, and certain medications can cause a dry mouth. Diabetes affects saliva production and flow in the mouth. Enough saliva is crucial to wash away bacteria, acids, and debris from the mouth to prevent oral issues. Insufficient saliva increases your risk of gum disease, decay, oral thrush, and other infections.

• Oral thrush

Besides bacteria, your mouth also contains other organisms like germs and fungi. Excess sugars in the saliva create an excellent breeding environment for yeast Candida albicans that cause fungi infections, which often result in oral thrush. Oral thrush often causes red and white patches on the tongue and inner cheeks. Proper hydration and oral hygiene can help prevent oral thrush.

• Burning Mouth Syndrome

Diabetes can contribute to a dry mouth and oral thrush, which can cause burning mouth syndrome. The syndrome makes you feel like you have burned your mouth with hot tea. You might also lose your ability to taste. Your mouth can also feel numb and could tingle.

• Slow wound healing

People with diabetes often experience slow wound healing. It can increase your risk of infections after dental procedures like oral surgery, tooth extraction, and dental implants.

• Tooth and bone loss

Diabetes makes you susceptible to various oral issues, some of which we’ve discussed above. If not treated, these issues lead to bone and tooth loss. Many people with diabetes have lost one or more of their natural teeth.

Signs of oral Problems from Diabetes

Signs you might have developed oral health issues from diabetes, and other conditions include:

• Sore, red, swollen, bleeding, or sensitive gums
• Receding gums
• Loose or falling teeth
• New spaces between teeth
• A dry mouth
• Persistent bad breath or halitosis
• Persistent tooth pain or pain when biting down
• Sensitivity to heat, cold, and sugar

Visit our dentist in Concord, NH, for treatment if you have these or other symptoms.

How to Prevent Oral issues

Having diabetes doesn’t mean you must develop these oral problems. Below are a few effective tips for maintaining good oral health, even with diabetes:

• Brush and floss daily
• Use a fluoridated toothpaste
• Schedule routine dental cleanings and check-ups
• Limit sugary and acidic food items
• Eat a healthy diet and hydrate well
• Keep your diabetes under control
• Notify your dentist about your diabetes
• Avoid tobacco products

Schedule an Appointment Today

For more information about general dentistry or complete oral exams in Concord, NH, contact Concord Dental Associates.