Hygiene and Dental Treatment

Because diabetes makes teeth and gums more susceptible to certain diseases, it is important to give special attention to dental hygiene. If you take care of your oral health it is possible to avoid or delay several complications of diabetes.
Here is a summary of advice offered to diabetics:

• You should brush your teeth at least twice a day, but preferably after every meal. You should also floss your teeth to complete the brushing by removing plaque and food particles that can remain between teeth and the surrounding gums. Because there is less saliva in the mouth, which normally contributes to a natural cleaning of teeth, a meticulous dental hygiene is therefore very important.
• Periodontal disease can reach an advanced level without necessarily feeling any kind of pain, and without your gums bleeding. Regular dental checkups, preferably every three months, are then recommended to detect any signs of gingivitis or periodontitis, but also dental caries.
• If the gums bleed in an abnormal way when brushing your teeth, it is important to consult your dentist quickly. Moreover, you must notify the dentist of any major change in your mouth, like a bad taste, a lack of saliva, or the presence of white patches on the tongue.
• It is important during dental checkups to update your medical history, and notify the state of your diabetes. If you suffer from periodontal disease, it is important to inform your doctor about the status of the disease.
• With few exceptions, people with diabetes can receive dental treatment as anyone normally could. Dentists recommend short dental appointments taken preferably in the morning. You must also take your meals and your insulin as you normally do without any changes.
• If tooth extraction or any kind of surgery is necessary, you must expect a longer healing period and a good follow-up with your surgeon or your dentist. Any surgery must only be accomplished if the level of blood sugar is well controlled. Otherwise, you must postpone the treatment, unless there is an infection or an abscess, which should then be treated immediately.

If you have diabetes, it is very important to monitor your diet and control your weight by exercising regularly. It must also carefully consider your dental and oral condition, which with the help of your dentist, will help your keep a good health for a very long time.

References

Canadian Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.ca).
American Academy of Periodontology (www.perio.org).