Oral Care and Diabetes

Having diabetes unfortunately makes it much harder to maintain good oral hygiene. One of the main reasons for this is that diabetes leaves your body more vulnerable to bacterial infection. Some people do not realize that gum disease is actually an infection of the periodontal tissues. And due to the effects of diabetes, it becomes much harder to fight the germs that are responsible for gum disease.

Not only does diabetes make it harder to fight gum disease, but gum disease has been shown to cause insulin resistance and make it harder to control blood sugar. This link between diabetes and gum disease becomes a terrible cycle in which one makes it harder to control the other. That is why it is so very important to be as diligent about your oral care as possible if you have diabetes.

At home, it is important that you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss your teeth at least once a day. While these steps are important, it is equally important that you visit a dentist routinely for a professional cleaning and dental exam. For a healthy individual, it is recommended that you visit the dentist every six months. If you are suffering from diabetes, it is advised that you visit the dentist even more frequently than that. If you have diabetes, the dentist may be able to more effectively help you prevent the development of gum disease. And if you already have gum disease, the dentist will be able to help you better control it.

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