Diabetes and Gum (Periodontal) Disease
Poorly controlled diabetes can lead to gum (periodontal) disease. This can happen
at any age. Gum disease is infection of the gums and the bones that hold the teeth
in place.
Diabetes causes changes to blood vessels. This affects the flow of nutrients. It also
affects how waste is removed from body tissues. This can weaken the gums and bones
and raise risk for infection.
Also, if diabetes is poorly controlled, higher blood sugar levels in the mouth fluids
will help bacteria grow that can cause gum disease. Poor blood sugar control makes
it harder for your immune system to fight infections. Uncontrolled gum disease may
also make it harder to control the diabetes.
Smoking is a third factor that is harmful to oral health. This is true even for people
without diabetes. But if you have diabetes and you smoke, you are at a much greater
risk for gum disease than a person who doesn't have diabetes.
Along with poor oral hygiene, diabetes can lead to gingivitis. This is the first stage
of gum disease.
What are the symptoms of gum disease?
These are the most common symptoms of gum disease:
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Red, swollen, sore gums
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Bleeding while brushing, flossing, or both
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Receding gums
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Loose or separating teeth
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Ongoing (chronic) bad breath or a strange taste in your mouth
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Dentures that no longer fit
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Pus between the teeth and gums
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A change in bite and jaw alignment
The symptoms of gum disease may look like other conditions. Talk with a dentist or
other oral health specialist for a diagnosis.
What are the types of gum disease?
Gum disease is staged when the dentist assesses it. The stages are:
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Gingivitis. This is the mildest form of gum disease. The gums become red, swollen, and tender.
They may bleed easily during daily cleanings and flossing. Treatment by a dentist
and correct, consistent care at home help stop gingivitis.
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Mild periodontitis. Untreated gingivitis leads to mild periodontitis. In this stage of gum disease, gums
pull away from the teeth. This causes a pocket between the teeth and gums. Bacteria
can settle here. This can lead to early loss of bone around the teeth. Prompt medical
care can stop more damage.
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Moderate to advanced periodontitis. This is the most advanced stage of gum disease. There is major bone loss, deepening
of gum pockets, and possibly receding gums around the teeth. Your teeth may change
in relation to each other, interfering with biting. Teeth may loosen and need to be
pulled.
Treatment for gum disease
Treatment may include any of the following:
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Tartar and plaque removal beneath the gums. Deep cleaning (also called scaling and root planing) can help remove the plaque and
tartar beneath the gum and infected tissue in the early stages of the disease. It
can also smooth the damaged root surfaces of the teeth. The gums can then reattach
to the teeth.
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Medicine. Antibacterial medicines may be put in the gum pockets. Or you may take this medicine
by mouth.
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Surgery. When the disease is advanced, the dentist will clean the infected areas under the
gums. Then they will reshape or replace the tissues. Types of surgeries include:
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Pocket reduction
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A regeneration procedure
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A soft-tissue graft
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Crown lengthening
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Dental implants . These can permanently replace teeth that have been extracted. They can also serve
as an anchor for dentures. If you have false teeth (dentures), they should fit well
and not be loose.
Diabetes and other oral problems
Diabetes can also cause other oral problems. These include:
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Thrush. Thrush is a fungal infection of the mouth. It happens more often in people with diabetes
because of high blood sugar in the saliva. Fungus thrives on sugar.
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Burning feeling. Uncontrolled blood sugar can cause a burning feeling in your mouth.
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Dry mouth. Dry mouth is often a symptom of undiagnosed diabetes. It means the mouth doesn't have
enough saliva to keep itself wet. Saliva helps digest food. It also helps prevent
infection and tooth decay by controlling bacteria and fungi. Dry mouth can make tasting,
chewing, and swallowing food difficult. It can also affect how you speak and cause
mouth infections and tooth decay.
Symptoms of dry mouth may include sticky, dry mouth, dry lips, sense of burning in
the mouth, rough tongue, and mouth sores or infection.
Always talk with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
Treatment for dry mouth depends on the cause of the condition. Dry mouth can be caused
by medicine, disease, cancer treatment or other salivary gland damage, and nerve damage.
Some tips to prevent dry mouth symptoms include:
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Take frequent sips of water or sugarless fluids.
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Don't drink caffeine.
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Drink fluids during meals.
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Stay away from spicy or salty foods.
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Don't use tobacco or alcohol.
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Use a humidifier at night.
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Chew sugarless gum or sugarless candy.
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Taking a medicine your dentist may prescribe that can help keep your mouth moist.
Preventing gum disease and other oral problems
Correct care of your teeth and gums can go a long way to prevent oral problems linked
to diabetes. These tooth brushing and flossing tips are advised by the National Institutes
of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK):
Brushing
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Brush twice daily with a soft, nylon brush with rounded bristles and fluoride toothpaste.
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Use small, circular motions and short back-and-forth motions. Don't use hard back-and-forth
motions.
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Brush the tongue each time you brush your teeth.
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Brush for about 3 minutes to clean all of the teeth well.
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Brush the top, back, and front of each tooth.
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Flossing
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Use about 18 inches of dental floss each time you floss..
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Floss at least once a day.
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Don't use a "sawing" motion in between the teeth.
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Curve the floss around each tooth and scrape up and down several times, from below
the gum to the top of the tooth.
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Rinse after flossing.
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Your dentist is part of your diabetes management team. The NIDDK suggests that you
alert your dentist to changes in your health or medicines on each visit. Also, share
some of your diabetes test results, such as your A1C test or your fasting blood glucose
test. This can help the dentist better manage your dental care. Finally, if your diabetes
is not well controlled, ask your dentist if you need antibiotics before and after
dental treatment.