High blood sugar levels—the hallmark of diabetes—can cause a variety of oral health problems. One of the most common is gum disease, which is known in the medical world as periodontal disease. Gum disease is an infection of the gum and underlying bone. It can have a variety of effects, from swelling or tenderness in the gums to tooth decay and loss of teeth. By managing diabetes and taking care of your teeth, you can stay ahead of gum disease and keep your mouth healthy. You should also work closely with your dentist and let them know that you have diabetes so you can partner to have a healthy mouth.
Diabetes and Oral Health: Understanding the Gum Disease Link
How does diabetes set the stage for oral health problems? High blood sugar levels create ideal conditions for bacteria to flourish in your mouth. That’s because bacteria feed on sugar in saliva, and if you have too much sugar in your blood, the same is also true of your saliva. As bacteria proliferate, they form plaque, a substance that sticks to your teeth. Too much plaque can lead to gum disease.
When your immune system detects harmful bacteria, it attacks them, causing inflammation. For people with diabetes, however, this inflammation is more intense, which can harm the gums. Gum disease can be worse and slower to heal in people with diabetes. In addition, gum disease can make managing diabetes more challenging.
Gums Gone Wrong: Signs and Treatment of Gum Disease
It’s important to be able to identify the signs of diabetes-related oral health problems. As you might expect, gum disease can affect the gums in a variety of ways. They may become red, swollen or tender. Your gums may recede, exposing more of your teeth. Bleeding may also occur.
The effects of gum disease may extend beyond the gums. Other symptoms of this disease include:
- Discomfort while chewing
- Long-lasting bad breath
- Loose teeth
- Painful teeth
Pay attention to your breath’s odor. If you have fruity breath but haven’t eaten fruit recently, beware. It could be a sign of a serious diabetes complication called diabetic ketoacidosis.
Treating gum disease starts with seeing a dentist or periodontist, who will seek to control the infection. How they do so depends, in large part, on the severity of the disease and what part of the mouth it affects. Like many conditions, gum disease is easier to treat if caught early. Early-stage gum disease is also known as gingivitis. Take steps such as improving your oral hygiene and quitting smoking, along with removing plaque from the teeth. That might be all the treatment you need.
If you have periodontitis (late-stage gum disease), you may need additional treatments to complement good oral hygiene steps. These treatments may include medications, cleaning the roots of your teeth or surgery to encourage new tissue or bone growth.
More Mouth Trouble: Diabetes and Additional Oral Health Challenges
A higher risk of gum disease isn’t the only effect diabetes can have on oral health. Diabetes can also cause dry mouth, which is when your salivary glands don’t make enough saliva. Without an adequate amount of saliva, chewing and swallowing may be more difficult. In addition, it’s easier for bits of food, bacteria and other potentially harmful substances to stick to your teeth. Finally, in the absence of calcium and other teeth-protecting minerals that saliva provides, tooth decay is more likely to occur.
Dry mouth can contribute to another problem: thrush. A fungal infection, thrush causes white sores in the mouth and on the tongue that may bleed with contact. Thrush can also cause pain when swallowing. The combination of a dry mouth and a high sugar level in your saliva can lead to thrush.
Take a Stand Against Diabetes and Stand Up for Your Oral Health
For people with diabetes, protecting oral health starts with controlling blood sugar levels. Poorly managed diabetes is more likely to lead to gum disease.
Work with your primary care provider or endocrinologist to develop a diabetes care plan. Once you have a plan, follow it closely to keep your A1C and blood sugar levels in their target ranges. Managing diabetes will not only help safeguard your teeth and gums. It also reduces the risk of other complications that can affect areas ranging from your feet to your heart.
In addition to controlling diabetes, it’s also important to develop good oral hygiene habits. Steps you can take include:
- Brushing and flossing your teeth daily. Brush twice a day using fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled brush, which helps protect tooth enamel. Be sure to brush your tongue, too. In addition, floss your teeth once a day to remove plaque and other substances between your teeth.
- Getting regular dental checkups. Routine cleanings with a dentist can help keep plaque in check. Tell your dentist you have diabetes so they can take extra care to look for signs of gum disease.
By prioritizing diabetes management and oral health, you can help ensure the health of your teeth and gums for years to come.
Listen to a Podcast
The Many Benefits of Good Oral Hygiene
It’s true that good oral hygiene helps fight bad breath, but did you know that there is more to it than just that? Keeping your mouth healthy helps keep your body healthy, too. In this podcast, learn why oral care is so important and what you need to do to keep your mouth healthy. Listen here.
Medically reviewed by Christine Kane, MSN, RN, CDCES, CCRN-K, Diabetes Nurse Consultant, UM Upper Chesapeake Health.
