Dental Hygiene

Dental Hygiene

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Dental Hygiene

Diabetes And Dental Hygiene

Another concern for the diabetic

It has long been known but not often discussed that dental hygiene has a special importance in the health care of persons with diabetes and especially so if their blood glucose levels are elevated for too long a period of time.

When the diabetic condition is in poor control, meaning that blood glucose levels are consistently higher than normal, the excess glucose provides nutrients for bacteria that can cause problems in many areas, including the mouth. And with increased bacteria in the mouth comes the possibility of inflammation of gum tissues and possible further development to gum disease in the form of gingivitis and periodontal disease.

The combination of more bacteria and less resistance can lead to fungal infections such as thrush, a common term for oral candidiasis which is a yeast infection that causes sometimes painful white patches in the mouth and on the tongue. Thrush seems to occur more frequently among persons with diabetes, perhaps because of lack of saliva, another diabetic symptom, or maybe because it is the increased glucose level in saliva that promotes the growth of harmful bacteria.

So those of us diabetics who have to battle day to day to get control of our blood sugars, perhaps already becoming dismayed, trying to right what is going wrong, what is not working, when our blood test readings are indicating that we are losing control, we have to still be conscious of other accompanying problems such as those mentioned here, in the form of dental problems, and some others that I will address separately.

Sometimes I do get a little exasperated knowing that it is recommended that to avoid those dental conditions one must get their blood sugars under control, that you can keep your gums healthy by controlling your blood glucose, and I wonder sometimes whether it is realized that by its very nature diabetes can sometimes get out of control even when you are conscientiously trying to contain it.

In addition to controlling blood sugars we should also have regular dental checkups, possibly every 4 or 6 months with a dentist who is aware of our own diabetes and knows how diabetes should be treated. It is important that a dental hygienist clean your teeth and remove accumulated dental plaque, a thin biofilm of microorganisms that can gradually build up on the teeth if we are unable to eliminate them during the brushing and flossing that we should do every day.
If your gums or the inside of your mouth become sore, take that as a warning indicating the need perhaps for some extra attention to your teeth cleaning activities.

Since I am now experiencing those problems myself, I have purchased a quality mechanical toothbrush, recommended by my dentist, which claims to improve gum health in only 2 weeks by helping reduce gum inflammation and bleeding. I hope so.

If you smoke, give it up. For the many other reasons but because it makes gum problems and gum disease worse.

As diabetics we have enough problems to deal with already but the most important factor in the avoidance of dental problems - as for all other diabetic issues - is good control and management of blood glucose levels. With good control of blood sugars the diabetic should encounter no more dental problems than the non-diabetic.

About the Author

About the Author
I am a type 2 diabetic, diagnosed as such about 20 years ago.
I write on a wide range of diabetes topics, more than just food and menu planning that can be found through the following links:Diabetic Food List + Plus and here for information on diabetic menu planning. Worth a visit. Check it out!

Dental Hygienist