Did you know that diabetes can play a major role in your oral health? We often think of diabetes as being a condition that affects the rest of the body, but the truth is that it can have serious ramifications for the state of your teeth and gums. If you have diabetes, you should let your dentist know that you have it as soon as possible.
At Imagine Dental, we know how much of a difference that knowledge can make. Here are four reasons why you should tell your dentist if you have diabetes.
Gum Disease
Having diabetes raises your risk of gum disease. The higher your blood sugar levels are, the more likely you are to have plaque building up on your teeth. Gum disease can lead to rotting teeth, receding gums and loss of bone density in your jaw. Treating gum disease can be time-consuming and costliness. Considering how vulnerable diabetics can be to developing gum disease, it is very much in your best interest to let your dentist know about your condition right off the bat.
Tooth Decay
Because of their high sugar levels, diabetics are also at risk of tooth decay. They can quickly develop cavities and suffer the ill effects of tooth decay due to the rapid buildup of plaque and bacteria in their mouth. It’s best to be proactive about your condition and care for your mouth so you can avoid having to get additional dental work done later.
Dry Mouth
Diabetics also tend to suffer from acute cases of dry mouth. This can be a serious problem because it dramatically slows down production of saliva in your mouth. Saliva is an essential part of your oral hygiene: It rinses the insides of your mouth, breaking down and washing away food particles and other debris that get lodged in your teeth. One of the reasons why diabetics are so vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease is that they often have a lack of saliva, which is critical in keeping those two damaging conditions at bay.
Thrush
People who take antibiotics to treat their diabetes to fight infections are more likely to get Thrush. Thrush is a fungal infection that affects the mouth and tongue. It thrives on high levels of sugar in saliva, which people with diabetes tend to have. One of the warning signs of Thrush is that it can give your mouth and tongue a burning feeling.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, give Imagine Dental a call at 480-893-7733.
