Periodontal disease and diabetes

In order to understand whether or not there is a link between periodontal disease and diabetes, it is first important to understand how these diseases differ from one another. Diabetes is a disease which interferes with the body's ability to metabolize glucose. Glucose is the sugar that all other types of sugars are converted to before entering the bloodstream of the body. Glucose is the fuel that makes all cellular function possible. Anything that interferes with this sugar utilization can make it possible for malfunction, including the cellular components of the periodontal tissue found in the mouth.

For those individuals that suffer from diabetes, the effects of periodontal disease can increase rapidly. It is important to note that the presence of periodontal disease depends entirely upon the amount of dental plaque on and around the teeth of the individual. With this being said, diabetes does not cause periodontal disease, but if a diabetic gets periodontal disease, the symptoms can be greatly accelerated. The best way to prevent this disease from happening is by practicing proper oral hygiene care to make sure that plaque is removed from the teeth and is not enable to sit on the teeth for long periods of time. Making sure to brush and floss teeth at least once a day will greatly reduce the risk of getting periodontal disease.

Diabetics should take extra care to practice good oral hygiene as the contracting of periodontal disease can be much worse for a diabetic as their ability to fight the disease is greatly compromised.

One more interesting thing that should be noted is that while periodontal disease is dependent on the oral hygiene of the person affected, constant grinding of the teeth an also play a part into the accelerated effects of the disease. People that grind or clench their teeth often need to make sure that they floss or use Stimudents to clean between their teeth daily as the grinding of the teeth can cram plaque filled film in between the teeth. Grinding and clenching are bad habits as they greatly accelerate the effects of periodontal disease and also make it possible for a bad situation to progress at a much more rapid pace.

As you can see, while diabetes does not cause periodontal disease, it can make the effects of periodontal disease much more severe and accelerated. This knowledge is important for diabetics to internalize as they should pay special attention to their teeth to be able to properly prevent the disease from happening. This will ensure that their teeth will remain healthy and free of periodontal disease.

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