Here’s a look at what diabetes can do to your dental and oral health.
Struggling with diabetes is no easy task. It can affect your entire life, from the way you eat to how healthy you feel on a daily basis. Did you know that it can also affect your dental and oral health? What people often overlook is that problems with their mouth can also damage their overall well-being. Here’s a look at what diabetes can do to your dental and oral health.
Oral Health
When you have diabetes, you’re more likely to suffer from dry mouth. This is because there isn’t as much saliva being produced, and you’ll feel it. Without enough saliva in your mouth, you’re also more likely to develop tooth decay. Because of this fact, it’s also likely you’ll get more cavities. On top of all that, you’ll have more infections in your mouth, and your mouth will also feel sore much more often, especially since any wounds in your mouth will heal more slowly than expected. You’ll need to see your dentist more often and pay more attention to your dental health routine.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is another problem that affects people with diabetes. You may not know what the difference between gingivitis and periodontitis is, but we can tell you that both are equally unpleasant. Both types of gum disease affect patients with diabetes more often than people without this condition. Gum disease can also interfere with your ability to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, which in turn can make you feel sick and faint. At some point, you’ll have trouble chewing, and you might face the prospect of losing your teeth, as well.
Dental Procedures
If your teeth start to fall out, then you might need to have dental implants or dental bridges put in. Unfortunately, gum disease makes these relatively simple procedures much more complicated than they need to be. You’ll need to speak with your dentist on how to proceed, and they can give you advice on how to improve your dental and oral health going forward so that these dental procedures can be completed safely and effectively.
Improving Your Health
You should also consult your doctor about how to change your lifestyle to work around your diabetic condition. See your dentist more often than you would otherwise, and let your doctor know if you have been feeling unwell because of your mouth. With the right changes and plenty of guidance from your doctor and your dentist, you can keep your teeth safe, happy, and healthy.
You Can Trust Olney Dental for All of Your Dental Care Needs
For all of your oral care questions and concerns, Olney Dental has the expertise and professionalism to get them the answers they need. Olney Dental is ready to supply you with expert service in a professional environment. Schedule an appointment online today! For more information on how we can give your family the best dentist experience available, give us a call at (301) 250-1057 or contact us online. For more dental tips, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, and Pinterest.