How does diabetes affect oral health?
According to statistics, diabetic patients in Vietnam account for 5.5% of the population. Diabetes can cause serious complications related to body organs and especially dental disease. Diabetics often suffer from oral diseases because of the following effects:
- When you have diabetes, the amount of bacteria in your mouth grows in proportion to your blood sugar. This is the main cause of many dental problems in diabetics.
- Diabetes weakens white blood cells (a type of defense cell for the body) which weakens the body's immune system. Therefore, diabetics are at a very high risk of periodontal disease and gingivitis. As gum disease (also known as periodontal disease) develops, blood sugar levels rise as well, making diabetes more difficult to treat.
Diabetes affects the teeth very seriously
In addition, after dental treatment, they are more prone to infection and slow to heal than the average person.
- Uncontrolled diabetes can reduce saliva production, causing dry mouth. Therefore, it is easy to cause mouth sores, infections,
- Diabetics who smoke are 20 times more likely to develop oral thrush and periodontal disease than non-smokers with diabetes.
The above trouble often occurs in diabetics who do not pay attention to oral hygiene. A few tips will help prevent the dangerous effects of diabetes on oral health in people living with the disease.
Notes for diabetics when dental treatment
- Explain the current medical condition to the doctor directly treating the dentist.
- Should schedule an appointment in the morning.
- Take medicine (if needed) and eat normally before going to the dentist.
- Should have ready sweets or candy in the bag.
- Blood sugar test.
- If blood sugar levels are unstable, treatment should be stopped immediately.
- Show your doctor the list of medicines you are taking.
- Always follow your doctor's instructions.
- People with diabetes will take longer to heal than normal people, so pay special attention to postoperative wound care.
People with diabetes must tell their dentist about their condition
Through the information that we share above, hopefully, you have been able to understand the notes when taking care of the teeth of people with diabetes so that they can help themselves and their loved ones have a healthy mouth, healthier teeth, and less damage caused by diabetes.