Americans are developing diabetes at an alarming rate, with as many as 100 million people living with diabetes and prediabetes today. This means that it’s even more important today than it was yesterday to ensure your oral health is maintained. After all, good oral health can help control blood glucose levels.
A diabetic’s body is unable to process glucose correctly, which creates a situation where the blood has too much sugar for the brain and other tissues to tolerate. This high blood glucose level can cause lots of complications throughout the body, including:
The same processes do major damage inside your mouth. Because high blood glucose makes you more susceptible to infection from all sorts of microbes, you are likely to experience a variety of infections in your mouth, one of the easiest points of entry and a place that many types of bacteria already call home.
These infections, in turn, can make it hard to control blood sugar levels. Then those high blood glucose levels feed the bacteria and fungal agents even more, which lets them grow explosively.
If you’re diabetic, you probably already know to watch your body for any new or unusual symptoms. But just in case you need some reminders, these are a few of the more common issues you may encounter. Don’t hesitate to call your dentist for a checkup if you notice signs of:
Diabetes doesn’t necessarily mean you have to have a special oral regimen. It does, however, mean you should at least perform a minimal daily oral care routine. Be sure to:
Because there’s no better time to reduce your risk of oral complications of diabetes, we’ve made it easy for you to book an appointment. Simply click here to email Maple Leaf Dental and request your spot. Or give the office a call at (281) 497-5558. We’re here to help with even the most challenging of oral conditions.