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What's the link between diabetes and dental health?
If you live with diabetes, you have a lot to think about on a daily basis. You probably give a lot of thought to your blood sugar levels, your carb counts, and the timing of your next insulin injection.
But how often do you think about your teeth?
Researchers are learning more and more about the connection between diabetes and dental health — and your oral health is definitely worth a second thought. Here's what to know about the impact blood sugar can have on oral health, as well as how to maintain strong teeth and gums while living with diabetes.
The connections between diabetes and dental health
People with high blood sugar sometimes experience dry mouth due to the effects of dehydration. Additionally, people with diabetes can experience dry mouth as a side effect of oral medications. This is important to keep in mind because over time, dry mouth can lead to changes in the oral microbiome (the natural bacteria found in a person's mouth). And that change in the microbiome can cause a person to become more susceptible to gum disease.
Gum disease is both a cause and a result of diabetes. This process can be a vicious cycle: high blood sugar encourages bacteria to grow in the mouth, and bacteria that grow in the mouth can infect the gums. An infection in the gums (or anywhere in the body) can cause an inflammatory response, including increased blood sugar levels. In turn, increased blood sugar levels give bacteria more food to grow on.
Without professional treatment for gum disease, this cycle often continues unchecked, and a person's gum disease and blood sugar management could worsen as a result. It can also lead to complications like insulin resistance, even if a person doesn't have diabetes. Additionally, insulin resistance is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, furthering the vicious cycle.
Balancing dental health, diabetes, and heart disease
You may already know that heart disease is the most common complication of diabetes, but did you know that researchers have linked gum disease with heart disease as well? It's been found that people with gum disease have a higher risk of heart disease.
In fact, bacteria typically found in the mouth have been found in artery-clogging plaques of some heart attack victims. But just because gum disease and heart disease are linked doesn't necessarily mean one causes the other. It may be that there's a third factor that's really causing the increased risk of heart disease, such as inflammation.
How to maintain good dental health with diabetes
If the thought of an extra-long session with your dental hygienist isn't enough to make you floss your teeth, the thought of heart disease may be a stronger motivator. Thankfully, you can take a number of preventative actions on a regular basis. To maximize your dental health, consider the following strategies:
- Brush your teeth with a soft-bristle toothbrush at least twice a day.
- Floss your teeth nightly.
- See your dental professional every six months for a thorough checkup.
- Maintain your blood sugar as close as possible to the desired range set by your healthcare team.
- Avoid acidic drinks, such as soft drinks, which erode the protective enamel on your teeth.
- If you do consume acidic drinks, try to follow up with a glass of water or brush your teeth.
When it comes to dental health, the old expression, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" definitely holds true. Preventing dental problems before they start can keep you healthier and happier for years to come. You already manage your diabetes on a daily basis — adding a focus on dental hygiene can help ensure your overall health stays intact.
Interested in finding out more about the bacteria in your gut and how they can affect your well-being? Check out this overview of T1D and your microbiome on the Health Insights blog.
