Diabetes and gum disease

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a common health problem that if not controlled can have many serious health effects which in turn can lead to lower life expectancy. Complications include:

Cardiovascular disease (major cause of death) and peripheral vascular disease (amputations)
Cerebrovascular disease and stroke
Retinopathy (blindness)
Nephropathy (renal failure)
Neuropathy (painful nerve damage)
Periodontal disease

Periodontal diseases are one of the most common diseases in humans and although diabetes and periodontal diseases may seem unrelated we know that people who suffer with diabetes have a two-fold or greater risk of developing periodontal diseases.

Due to the increased prevalence and severity of periodontitis seen in diabetic patients with poor glycaemic control, periodontitis has been identified as ‘the 6th complication of diabetes’.

Well controlled diabetes is not a risk factor for periodontitis, however if it is not well controlled patients can develop a more severe form of periodontitis. Studies have demonstrated that the presence of one condition adversely effects the other.

As well as periodontal diseases there are other possible oral complications of diabetes including:

Reduced salivary flow
Burning mouth or tongue
Increased candida infections
Angular chelitis
Taste disturbance
Oral lichen planus
Multiple periodontal abscesses
Denture-induced stomatitis

To find out more about diabetes and periodontitis please call us to speak with our friendly team or fill out our contact form.

How does Periodontitis affect Diabetes?

Severe periodontitis can adversely affect glycaemic control in diabetics and there is a direct link between periodontitis severity and diabetes complications.

The mechanism by which periodontitis affects diabetes is not yet completely understood, but scientists think that when periodontitis is present the mouth is a significant source of bacteria, these bacteria cause a reaction in the body that results in our defence system being activated. Molecules released due to this defence reaction have the ability to suppress insulin and therefore lead to elevated blood glucose levels.

What effect will treatment of Periodontitis have on Diabetes?

Periodontal treatment and control of periodontal inflammation has been shown to improve glucose control, it is thought that this is due to treatment reducing the number of circulating defence molecules. This means that if you have diabetes, improving your gum health may help to control your diabetes and reduce the risk of diabetes complications.
If there is a history of diabetes in your family, having your gums checked for signs of diabetes, treating gum disease alongside losing weight and taking exercise may help you to stay healthy.

Periodontal treatment can help improve diabetic control

Any type of infection may cause blood sugar levels to rise. This includes periodontal disease. If the infection is treated successfully, your blood sugar may go down as a result, and you may need less medicine to control your diabetes.

Preventing Dental Problems Associated with Diabetes

First and most importantly you need to control your blood glucose levels, always inform us of your most recent HbA1c test which will provide us with a better idea of your diabetes control and how this may affect your periodontal condition
Take good care of your teeth and gums by ensuring you attend appointments regularly as advised by your dental professional
Maintain a thorough oral hygiene routine to ensure you effectively remove bacterial plaque from the mouth
To control and prevent candida infections maintain good blood glucose control, avoid smoking, and if you wear them remove dentures and clean well twice daily
Prevent the reduction of saliva flow and a dry mouth by keeping blood glucose levels well controlled

If you would like to find out more about diabetes and the effect on gum and periodontal health please call us to speak with our friendly team or fill out our contact form.