Dental care and diabetes

Diabetes is one of the most common lifestyle diseases in the world today. Every year, millions of people are reported to have diabetes. In the United States of America alone, there are about 16 million people who suffer from this disease.

Diabetes can have many different symptoms that manifest in a person’s body. Apart from the rise in glucose and the effects of it, a diabetic person also suffers from problems with eyesight, diabetic neuropathies that affect the skin of the patient, and dental problems. The high glucose in the blood can take a toll on many different parts of the body.

The gums and teeth need special care. Fortunately, with good care and proper precautions it is possible to keep your teeth and gums healthy.

Some of the common problems that can be caused due to diabetes are cavities, gum diseases or gingivitis, and periodontitis which signify advanced decay of gums. Since diabetes is a chronic disease of the metabolism, it can affect the progression of dental decay.

A recent study performed on adults with type 1 diabetes has shown that most of the test subjects were unaware of the risk of developing dental problems. In fact, it was revealed in this study that those who suffer from diabetes actually have the same kind of lifestyle habits as those adults who are healthy. Tobacco use and practices of oral hygiene were similar in both diabetics and non diabetics. It has also been seen that most diabetic people, along with being unaware about the risks of dental problems posed by diabetes, also avoid availing health facilities because of the cost involved.

The study clearly shows that there needs to be an increase in the awareness about diabetes and the complications that could be caused due to it. The need for proper preventive care is very important for maintaining the health of a diabetic patient.

Since a diabetic person is prone to developing various periodontal and gum diseases, it is important for the person to abstain from the consumption of tobacco and other high risk behavior.

Along with regular dental examinations, maintaining proper oral hygiene is extremely important. The cessation of smoking and treatment of diabetes is also important for keeping oral health in check. Regulating the diet, regular physical activity, routine checkups, and monitoring of glucose are some of the other steps in controlling the sugar levels and helping to suppress the symptoms of diabetes.