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What Are Diabetes Problems?
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Too much sugar in the blood for a long time causes diabetes problems. This high-blood sugar can damage many parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys. Diabetes problems can be scary, but there is a lot you can do to prevent them or slow them down. This chapter is about tooth and gum problems caused by diabetes. You will learn the things you can do each day and during each year to stay healthy and prevent diabetes problems. |
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What should I do each day to stay healthy with diabetes?
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Follow the healthy eating plan that you and your doctor or dietitian have worked out. Eat your meals and snacks at around the same times each day. |
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Be active a total of 30 minutes most days. Ask your doctor what activities are best for you. |
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Take your diabetes medicine at the same times each day. |
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Check your blood sugar every day. Each time you check your blood sugar, write the number in your record book. Call your doctor if your numbers are too high or too low for 2 to 3 days. |
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Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, sores, swelling, redness, or sore toenails. |
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Brush and floss your teeth and gums
every day.
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Don’t smoke. |
How Can Diabetes Hurt My Teeth and Gums?
Tooth and gum problems can happen to anyone. A sticky film full of germs (also called plaque [PLAK]) builds up on your teeth. High blood sugar helps germs (bacteria) grow. Then you can get red, sore, and swollen gums that bleed when you brush your teeth. People with diabetes can have tooth and gum problems more often if their blood sugar stays high. High blood sugar can make tooth and gum problems worse. You can even lose your teeth.
Smoking makes it more likely for you to get a bad case of gum disease, especially if you have diabetes and are age 45 or older.
| Red, sore, and bleeding gums
are the first sign of gum disease. This can lead to periodontitis (PER-ee-oh-don-TY-tis).
Periodontitis is an infection in the gums and the bone that holds the teeth in place. If the infection gets worse, your gums may pull away from your teeth, making your teeth look long. Call your dentist if you think you have problems with your teeth or gums. |
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How Do I Know If I Have Damage to My Teeth and Gums?
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If you have one or more of these problems, you may have tooth and gum damage from diabetes:
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Loose or sensitive teeth. |
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Bad breath. |
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A bite that feels different. |
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Dentures (false teeth) that do not fit well. |
How Can I Keep My Teeth and Gums Healthy?
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Keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible. |
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Use dental floss at least once a day. Flossing helps prevent the buildup of plaque on your teeth. Plaque can harden and grow under your gums and cause problems. Using a sawing motion, gently bring the floss between the teeth, scraping from bottom to top several times. |
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How Can My Dentist Take Care of My Teeth and Gums?
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By cleaning and checking your teeth and gums twice a year. |
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By helping you learn the best way to brush and floss your teeth and gums. |
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By telling you if you have problems with your teeth or gums and what to do about them. |
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By making sure your false teeth fit well. |
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Plan ahead. You may be taking a diabetes medicine that can make your blood sugar too low. This very low blood sugar is called hypoglycemia (hy-po-gly-SEE-mee-uh). If so, talk to your doctor and dentist before the visit about the best way to take care of your blood sugar during the dental work. You may need to bring some diabetes medicine and food with you to the dentist’s office. |
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If your mouth is sore after the dental work, you might not be able to eat or chew for several hours or days. For guidance on how to adjust your normal routine while your mouth is healing, ask your doctor
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What foods and drinks you should have. |
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How you should change your diabetes medicines. |
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How often you should check your blood sugar. |
For More Information
• Diabetes Teachers
(nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, and other health professionals)To find a diabetes teacher near you, call the American Association of Diabetes Educators toll-free at 1-800-TEAMUP4 (1-800-832-6874), or look on the Internet at www.aadenet.org and click on "Find an Educator."
• Recognized Diabetes Education Programs (teaching programs approved by the American Diabetes Association)
To find a program near you, call toll-free at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383), or see www.diabetes.org/education/edustate2.asp on the Internet.
• Dietitians
To find a dietitian near you, call the American Dietetic Association’s National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics toll-free at 1-800-366-1655, or look on the Internet at www.eatright.org and click on "Find a Dietitian."
• Government
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is part of the National Institutes of Health. To learn more about tooth and gum problems, write or call NIDCR’s information clearinghouse, the National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse (NOHIC), at 1 NOHIC Way, Bethesda, MD 20892-3500, (301) 402-7364; or see www.nohic.nidcr.nih.gov on the Internet.