Overview
High blood sugar can reduce the body's ability to fight oral infections, increase dry mouth, and raise gum disease risk. Gum disease can also make blood sugar control harder. Dental checkups should be part of every diabetes care plan.
Key Takeaways
- ✓People with diabetes need careful gum monitoring.
- ✓Dry mouth, thrush, delayed healing, and gum infection are more common.
- ✓Better gum health can support better overall diabetes control.
- ✓Dentists should know your latest HbA1c, medicines, and hypoglycemia history.
What You Can Do At Home
- 1Brush twice daily and clean between teeth every day.
- 2Keep blood sugar as controlled as possible with your physician's plan.
- 3Carry your diabetes medicines and snack plan when visiting the dentist.
- 4Avoid tobacco because it multiplies gum and healing risks.
When To Book A Dentist
- !Gums bleed easily, feel swollen, or pull away from teeth.
- !You have persistent bad breath, dry mouth, or white patches.
- !You are planning an extraction, implant, or surgery.
- !Your diabetes is uncontrolled and you have dental pain.