Diabetes can impact your oral health in ways we may not have even realised!

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic condition affecting the way the human body converts sugars from food into energy via the hormone insulin. There are several forms of diabetes; however, Type 1 and 2 diabetes occur more commonly, with Type 2 being the most prevalent form. In people with diabetes, insulin is either no longer produced, is not produced correctly, or the amount produced is insufficient.

It is important to understand that diabetes can have detrimental effects on our oral health. This is due to the increased risk of developing infections, including periodontal diseases. Diabetes can lower your resistance to infection and can slow the healing process. If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you may know that the disease can cause problems with your eyes, nerves, kidneys, heart and other parts of your body. In addition, a person with diabetes is TWICE as likely to have gum and bone disease as people without. In fact, Periodontal disease is often considered the sixth complication of diabetes, and those people who don’t have their diabetes under control are especially at risk.

What is the relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes?

This article attached “Diabetes and Oral Health” outlines how diabetes impacts your oral health and what you can do about it. Simply click the link below to read.

Diabetes and Oral Health