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Diabetes is a disease that affects how your body metabolizes sugar, starches, and other carbohydrates. If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, it means that your pancreas is not producing enough insulin to regulate your blood sugar. As a result, the glucose in your blood cannot enter the cells of the body to provide energy. Uncontrolled blood sugar can eventually lead to nerve damage throughout the body, including your mouth. This can cause oral complications such as dry mouth, bleeding gums, gum disease, tooth loss, and more. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to lose their teeth than people without the disease.

In addition to controlling blood sugar levels through diet, exercise, medication, and insulin therapy, getting regular dental care is important as well. During every routine checkup at our office in Modesto, CA, we will examine your gums for any signs of infection. We will look for any areas of redness or swelling around your teeth as well as receding gum lines. We may also perform an oral cancer screening to look for any early signs of mouth cancer. Overall, we can help keep your mouth healthy and comfortable so that you can reduce the risk of tooth decay, infections, or other common conditions that can arise as a result of diabetes.

How Does Diabetes Affect the Mouth?

People with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease than people without diabetes. This is because having diabetes can make it more difficult for the body to fight off infections, including gum infections. Additionally, the high blood sugar that frequently accompanies diabetes can cause dry mouth, which can also contribute to the development of gum disease. Patients with diabetes are also more likely to have cavities because high blood glucose levels allow bacteria to thrive in the mouth. This puts them at a higher risk for tooth decay. Lastly, people with diabetes may have issues with healing after dental procedures or oral surgery.

If you are diabetic, you should try to keep your blood sugar levels as stable as possible in order to help reduce your risk of oral health problems. You should also make sure to attend regular dental checkups in order to monitor your oral health. If you do develop an oral health issue, your dentist may recommend that you visit your dentist to help determine the best treatment for you.

If you’re interested to learn more, call our dentist today to schedule a consultation. You can call us at (209) 554-1700 or visit our clinic located at 1317 Oakdale Rd Suite 310, Modesto, California 95355.