Oral health and diabetes

According to different studies, there is a close relationship between diabetes and gum-related diseases. Diabetic people have been shown to have a higher incidence of ailments such as gingivitis, periodontitis, and cavities. In addition, periodontitis can accelerate insulin resistance and thus help develop the disease.

Diabetes affects about 6 million people in Spain and is responsible for 25.000 deaths each year, in addition to being behind 7 out of 10 non-traumatic amputations of the lower extremities and being responsible for 16% of blindness cases . Most patients (90%) suffer from type 2 diabetes, which usually appears after the age of 40 and can be avoided or delayed with a balanced diet, physical exercise and a healthy life without tobacco and moderate consumption of alcohol. More than 2 million Spaniards do not know that they suffer from this disease, and dentists can diagnose it in a routine checkup.

Diabetic patients should pay more attention to their oral health, as they are more prone to cavities, especially when they have hyperglycemia. The use of dental floss is essential in these cases. Another recent study found that patients with diabetes have a 50% increased risk of lose teeth. Your gums are also more vulnerable and more likely to suffer from gingivitis or periodontitis.

Factors riesgo

There are different factors that can cause the possible appearance of some complications. Thus, the control of pain in the person with diabetes it is very important, it has already been proven that in all people acute stress increases the release of adrenaline and the elimination of glucocorticoids and the decrease in insulin secretion. All these alterations cause an increase in blood glucose and free fatty acids that can decompensate diabetes, since adrenaline has the opposite effect to insulin.

For its part, when the body perceives that there is a stress situation increases your production of adrenaline, this hormone causes a cascade of reactions in the body, including in the liver, which maintains a store of glucose and fat for emergencies, and draws these fuels into the blood so that they are available in case of need , which increases the levels of these two substances in the blood. In this way, the diabetic can develop hyperglycemia.

Another risk factor is wound healing, which is compromised in diabetics by an alteration in cellular activity with a lower synthesis of collagen by fibroblasts and an increase in collagenase activity. Finally, diabetic patients are more susceptible to infections. Depending on the type of intervention and the degree of diabetes control, to avoid complications it is recommended to establish preoperative and, above all, postoperative antibiotic coverage.

 

Oral care

• Maintain the blood glucose level at adequate levels. It is one of the most important things you can do to maintain oral health.
• Visit the dental clinic every 6 months for a complete exam, if necessary, make the most frequent visits.
• In case of wearing dentures (or removable), take extreme hygiene, monitor their condition and make sure that they fit well and do not cause friction or injury.
• In case you have sores, wounds, bleeding gums, ulcers, tooth loss, pain in the mouth, white patches or bad breath, visit the dentist immediately.
• Stop smoking, this habit aggravates periodontal disease.
• Undergo periodontal treatments, if necessary, in order to achieve an adequate state of the bone and gum and thus avoid the loss of teeth.

From Dental Clinics GroupWe recommend paying special attention to risk factors and oral care. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us!