Oral & Dental Wellness
Diabetes and Oral Wellness
The relationship between diabetes and oral wellness possesses a particular challenge to patients and oral professionals. There is a two-way interaction between diabetes and oral health that is very serious and requires proper attention.
As background, there are currently about 20 million Americans affected with diabetes, and about one-third of these people are unaware they have the disease. Of those who have been diagnosed, less than half have the ailment under control.
With diabetes, the body does not properly produce or use insulin—a hormone which regulates how sugar enters the cells and provides energy to the cells. In both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, sugar cannot enter the cells and builds up in the bloodstream. Cells become starved for energy. Over time, high blood sugar in the bloodstream can damage vision (even causing blindness), trigger kidney damage, nerve damage, and heart disease. It also causes wounds to heal poorly.
With regards to oral health, diabetes also increases the risk for periodontal disease. It has been shown through research that periodontal disease occurs more frequently in diabetics.
Importantly, new research shows that conversely, periodontal disease in diabetics can adversely affect their ability to control their blood sugar levels, and can contribute to diabetic complications such as heart and kidney disease. However, proper treatment of the periodontal condition reduces the level of inflammation in the tissues around the teeth, and actually improves the ability of the diabetic to control their blood sugar levels.
Thus, diabetes often causes periodontal disease which in turn affects blood sugar level control—causing a downward spiral of health. It is crucial that diabetic patients work closely with their dentists to address this vicious cycle and pay proper attention to the management of oral and diabetic health.