Do you have diabetes? Do you suffer from oral health problems due to your diabetes? Did you know, people living with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing infections in their mouth. This is because they have more glucose in their saliva along with an increased thirst and a dry mouth, which provides a gateway for plaque to build up on the teeth and can lead to gum disease.
Around 4.7 million people in the UK suffer from diabetes, and it can be a battle, but it’s been found that by managing your diabetes effectively and keeping control of your blood glucose levels you can help to prevent gum disease and other infections in your mouth. We have some provided some expert guidance below to help avoid oral health problems and hopefully keep a smile on your face for as long as possible.
Diabetes can affect a lot of aspects of your health, one of which being your oral health. By ensuring that your dentist is made aware of your condition, they can provide the best possible care and treatment for you. Regular dental checkups are critical to the management of your diabetes to ensure no mouth problems ensue. Your dentist will be able to advise the best practices for cleaning, check-ups, x-rays, and your brushing routine.
Flossing your teeth at least once a day, helps to remove food trapped in your teeth and any plaque along your gumline. It helps to reach the places where your toothbrush can’t get to. If this plaque is left on your teeth, it can wear down the enamel and cause your teeth to become discoloured. Our in-house dental advisors recommend you “floss before you brush your teeth.” Read more of their recommendations in our National Dentists Day blog post.
We would also advise you to adapt some personal changes to your lifestyle, for example avoiding tobacco products, as smoking increases your risk of gum disease and can in fact make your diabetes worse. Your sugar intake can play a massive role in good your oral health is, as sweet food and drink can feed the bacteria in your mouth and increase your risk. But overall making conscious healthy choices with your diet, lifestyle and dental care can vastly improve your overall health and wellbeing.
If you have suffered at the hands of your dentist: failure to diagnose progressive gum disease, misdiagnosis, poor treatment, or negligence, you may be eligable to make a no win no fee claim. Get in touch with our team on 01270 613320, the Dental Law Partnership will be by your side every step of the way.
Helpful Links:
- https://www.diabetes.org.uk/diabetes-week
- https://dentallaw.co.uk/news/we-answer-the-most-searched-dental-health-questions-for-national-dentists-day/
- Diabetes Care Management Schedule –https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/care-schedule.html
- https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-us/news-and-views/research-spot-signs-type-2-diabetes-dentist-appointments
- https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/diabetes
- Living with diabetes – https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes