Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the body’s ability to use glucose, or blood sugar for energy. Diabetes can cause complications such as nerve damage, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and even blindness. Oral health problems and gum diseases are also an added complications with diabetic patients.
Due to irregular blood glucose levels the resistance to infections decreases, hence causing risk to oral health. A diabetic person must control their blood sugar levels and take extra care of their gums and teeth. Diabetes being a common problem in our country affecting a larger section of people, here are the common oral problems suffered by diabetic people:
Periodontal Disease
Diabetes causes a negative influence on all soft and hard tissues of the periodontium. People with diabetes mellitus, especially poorly managed, have more severity and prevalence of gingivitis. Even low levels of hyperglycaemia (increased blood glucose level) have detrimental effects on the periodontium. Lengthening of the teeth is visible, where the root surface of a teeth that is not covered by enamel is visible. It has been found that periodontitis may develop without any particular signs and symptoms until loosening of the teeth, hence diabetic patients must regularly visit a dentist for checking the symptoms of periodontal disease
Peri-implant Diseases
Peri-implantitis is similar to periodontitis with permanent breakdown of soft and hard tissues around the implant. People with diabetes has about 50–90% greater risk for peri-implantitis than their normal ones.
Caries
A consequence of untreated caries is decay of the tooth’s interior soft tissue called ‘pulp’ that consists of blood vessel, nerves and connective tissue. Toxins from these decaying soft tissues will exude from the root tip of the tooth and cause infection and inflammation in the jawbone. Researchers have found that patients with diabetes and elevated blood sugar levels in saliva are associated with more caries.
Periapical lesions
People with diabetes experience greater risk of periapical lesions in the jaw bone that seem to be present more often and to be larger in size and take longer to heal compared to normal people.
Early tooth eruption
Children aged 10–14 years with diabetes experience accelerated tooth eruption compared to normal children, especially among girls, potentially leading to malocclusion, impaired oral hygiene, periodontal disease, and caries due to the prolonged exposure in the oral cavity.
Dry mouth
People with diabetes often suffer from hyposalivation, a decreased salivary output that may be due to diabetic neuropathy, changes in the salivary glands generated by prolonged increased blood glucose level, polyuria (excessive passage of urine), or radiation to the head and neck region without proper protection to the contra-lateral side.
Candidiasis
Candidiasis or thrush is a fungal infection caused by the yeast Candida albicans. Signs of thrush include painful white or red patches inside the mouth. It is found more often in people with diabetes, especially poorly controlled, compared to people without diabetes.
Iron precipitation in dental tissue
A novel effect of increased blood glucose level is deposit of iron elements in the dentin inside the tooth that is covered by the enamel on the crown.Such deposits can cause stain seen through the enamel. Such deposits might in the future be used for early indication of undiagnosed diabetes by dentists.
Oral cancer
Just like cancers at several body sites, oral cancer and precancerous lesions are more prevalent among people with type 2 diabetes, with an overall 15% (as per some case studies only) excessive risk compared to people without diabetes
Conclusion
Diabetes can cause several oral health problems however taking proper oral health care can help avoid them. Proper dental care such as maintaining blood glucose level, brushing and flossing of teeth regularly and check for early signs of gum diseases. Regular visit to a dentist can help you get the correct diagnose for your dental care. Global dentals has a team of expert doctors to guide you, book an appointment and visit our clinic at the earliest.
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