For diabetics, having high blood sugar can have a huge impact on your entire body – including both your physical wellbeing and your emotional wellness. However, what you may not know is that diabetes can also cause many problems in your mouth. As your teeth and gums are heavily affected by the excess glucose in your system, you can experience serious long-term damage to your oral wellness if you do not take the proper preventative care. So, how can diabetes harm your mouth?
Firstly, there are several reasons why a seemingly separate health concern can lead to thrush, or a yeast infection in your mouth. In people with diabetes, it’s a condition that’s very likely to pop up, but you’re also at risk if you use a steroid-based inhaler. Yeast grows at its best in extra sugary conditions, which is why it’s more likely to affect you if you’re diabetic. In addition, you’re also more likely to have a dry mouth, which makes for a perfect environment in which thrush can thrive. You can avoid thrush by brushing, flossing, and using mouth wash twice a day. Consult your dentist if you begin to notice sores or white spots.
Another way that diabetes can affect your mouth health is with gingivitis. When plaque and tarter begin to form on your teeth and push your gums down, this is known as gingivitis and is the first stage of gum disease. You may notice symptoms of bleeding or uncomfortable gums, which, if left untreated, can lead to periodontitis. Periodontitis is advanced gum disease which destroys the bone and soft tissues that hold your teeth up. Therefore, it’s important to alert your dental team if you notice the early signs.
With diabetes, the key things to watch out for are having too much sugar in your system – which you can avoid by keeping your mouth clean – and a dry mouth. When you often have a dry mouth, as is common in diabetics, it can lead to all other types of problems, so it’s important to keep your saliva moving by chewing sugar-free gum, which helps your body produce saliva. Remember to let your dental team know that you have diabetes, so that you can keep your teeth clean in the most effective ways.
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