Living With Diabetes: Discover The Impact This Disease Can Have On Your Oral Health

If you have recently been diagnosed with diabetes, you will soon discover that this disease can have an impact on your entire body. This includes your oral health. Below you will learn more about how your recent diagnosis can impact the health of you teeth and gums and what you can do to help prevent the development of many oral diseases:

How Does Diabetes Impact Oral Health?

Diabetes increases your risk of developing many different oral diseases, such as gum disease and thrush. This increased risk is due to the body's limited ability to produce white blood cells when your blood sugar levels are not controlled. Generally speaking, the more further out of control your diabetes gets, the higher your risk of developing these oral problems will be. This is just one of the many reasons why it is so important to take the treatment of your diabetes seriously.

What Type Of Oral Problems Can Result From Diabetes?

There are many different dental health problems that can result from uncontrolled diabetes. These problems include:

• Thrush - This fungal infection often occurs in patients who routinely take antibiotics in order to treat the varying infections that are common in diabetics.
• Gingivitis - This gum disease often results from the body's inability to effectively eliminate waste from the mouth. This is a common problem in diabetics as diabetes often causes the blood vessels to thicken, ultimately making it more difficult for the body to dispose of waste.
• Chronic Dry Mouth - Diabetes can also cause a reduction in the production of saliva. Consequently, it is quite common for diabetics to experience chronic dry mouth that cannot be soothed simply by drinking water.

What Can Be Done To Avoid These Problems?

While you may be at a higher risk due to you diabetes, this does not mean that you are doomed to suffer an ill fate each time you visit the dentist. This is because if you are proactive, it is possible to avoid the dental heath complications that often accompany your diagnosis.

The first step in maintaining your good oral health is to ensure your diabetes remains under control. This means eating well, exercising, and taking your medications as directed by your doctor. Next, you will need to work closely with you dentist so that any problems which do develop can be treated in the earliest possible stage. This means visiting your dentist at least twice a year and immediately reporting any changes you see or feel in your teeth and gums.

To learn more, contact a company like Treasure Valley Periodontics with any questions or concerns you have.