The Unseen Battle: Diabetes and Dental Health – A Comprehensive Guide
With 29.1 million Americans diagnosed with diabetes and an estimated 8.1 million more unaware of their condition, the impact of diabetes reaches far beyond elevated blood sugars.
It turns out people with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease, cavities, and other problems with their teeth and gums. Let's delve into this important topic, exploring the link between diabetes and your dental health, and how to properly manage your dental health.
The Diabetes and Dental Connection
Diabetes management is not confined to glucose levels. Many are unaware of the profound effects diabetes can have on dental health. Poorly controlled diabetes amplifies the risk of dental decay, cavities, and gum disease, unraveling a complex relationship between diabetes and oral well-being.
Saliva, often underestimated, plays a crucial role in dental health. In people with uncontrolled diabetes, elevated glucose levels in saliva create an environment that fosters harmful bacteria growth. This bacterial interaction with food forms plaque, a sticky film that, if left untreated, leads to tooth decay, bad breath, and gum disease.
Diabetes further complicates oral health by reducing saliva production. This not only increases the likelihood of dental problems but also affects blood supply to the gums, elevating the risk of infections. Recognizing the signs, such as bleeding gums, pain, or frequent infections, becomes paramount in managing oral health.
Common Dental Problems Linked to Diabetes
Mouth problems associated with diabetes encompass a range of issues, including:
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Infection in the soft tissue and bone supporting teeth (periodontitis)
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Gum inflammation (gingivitis)
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Dry mouth (xerostomia), elevating the risk of tooth decay
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Fungal infections (oral thrush)
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Irritated and sore mouth, posing challenges for denture wearers
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Tooth loss
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Abscesses
Early signs of these problems include bleeding gums, loose teeth, bad breath, increased tooth sensitivity, and aches as cavities develop. Ignoring these signs can lead to severe infections, tooth loss, and other complications later on.
Diabetes and Gum Disease
People with diabetes have a higher chance of having periodontal (gum) disease. While gum disease is common, with approximately 50% of the population suffering with it, the stakes are higher for those with diabetes.
Gingivitis marks the onset of gum disease, presenting as a mild inflammation of the soft tissues surrounding your teeth. The condition takes root when plaque and tartar accumulate on your teeth, particularly near the gum line, provoking irritation and inflammation in the gums. Consequently, you may observe redness, swelling, and increased susceptibility to bleeding in your gums.
Without intervention, gingivitis can advance to a more severe stage known as periodontitis—an infection affecting both the gums and the bone responsible for anchoring your teeth. During this stage, your gums may recede from your teeth, forming pockets that gradually become infected. If left untreated, periodontitis can lead to tooth loss.
Gum disease can increase your blood sugar levels which can make other complications of diabetes, such as heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidney and nerve problems worse.
People with type 2 diabetes are around three times more likely to develop dental problems than people who don’t have diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes are also more at risk.
Diabetes and Tooth Decay
Another common adversary for individuals with diabetes is tooth decay, scientifically known as caries. Elevated sugar levels in the blood translate to increased sugar in saliva, creating an ideal environment for plaque bacteria. These bacteria produce acid, attacking tooth enamel and dentine, leading to cavities.
Managing diabetes goes beyond glucose control; it involves vigilant dental care. Early detection and knowing how to properly treat dental issues can prevent severe complications.
Preventing Dental Issues with Diabetes
For individuals diagnosed with diabetes, in addition to meticulous blood sugar control, addressing your oral care practices, including the use of high-quality dental products, is crucial to preventing future dental complications.
The first step is to eliminate the use of commercial toothpaste and mouthwash. As we explained, your saliva plays a crucial role in the health of your mouth. When you use commercial toothpaste and mouthwash, you create an acidic environment in your mouth. This creates a breeding ground for cavities and gum disease.
Instead, you want to start by detoxing your mouth from the toxins that have been preventing good oral health - including fluoride, heavy metals, triclosan, SLS, and paraben, commonly found in commercial toothpaste and mouthwash.
At Primal Life Organics, our Dental Detox Kit has everything you need to detox your mouth while also providing your teeth with the essential minerals they need to remain strong.
Our Toothpowder, Toothpaste, and Toothpaste Chews are made with 3 detoxifying and remineralizing clays and nano-hydroxyapatite - the same mineral your teeth are made of! This formulation creates a healthy, alkaline environment in your mouth while it remineralizes your teeth, keeping them strong and healthy.
Our Gum Drops are made with a detoxifying blend of 11 essential oils that create a healthy balance of good bacteria inside your mouth, getting rid of toxins and impurities found on the surface of your teeth and gums.
A good oral care routine includes a remineralizing, alkaline Toothpowder or Toothpaste, detoxifying Gum Drops using a Copper Tongue Scraper, and non-toxic Dental Floss - available in our Dental Detox Kit.
Using this kit twice a day will not only prevent the dental problems associated with diabetes but make your teeth and gums healthy and strong.
LED Light for Managing Dental Issues with Diabetes
Red and blue LED light is a great way to support healthier teeth and gums when you have diabetes. this is a game changer when it comes to oral health, more specifically controlling the harmful bacteria and supporting gum tissue health.
Blue LED light has been shown to tackle the bad bacteria that reside in your mouth. A study done by Harvard Medical Center found that blue light kills the bacteria that are the prime cause of periodontal disease. A WIN for anyone with diabetes!
Red LED light has been proven to decrease inflammation in your mouth while also stimulating the new growth of gum tissue. Healthy gum tissue is a must to prevent internal inflammation.
The Primal Life LED Teeth Whitening System features both blue and red LED light. Blue LED light combined with a remineralizing natural gel, not only whitens teeth, but strengthens them, keeping cavities at bay.
Maintaining Oral Health with Diabetes
Taking care of your mouth is vital, especially when living with diabetes. Here's a daily routine to safeguard your teeth and gums:
- Check Your Blood Sugars Regularly: Keep a close eye on your blood sugar levels and strive to maintain them within your target range.
- Detox Your Mouth: Cleansing your mouth tissues will speed healing and help prevent increased internal inflammation- the root cause of disease!
- Brush Twice A Day: Having a good oral care routine that includes brushing with an alkaline, remineralizing Toothpowder or Toothpaste, Gum Drops, tongue scraping and flossing, will help keep your teeth and gums healthy.
- Regular Dental Check-ups: Schedule regular check-ups with your dentist.
- Mind Your Diet: Follow a healthy, balanced diet with low sugar intake. What you eat impacts your oral health.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking weakens your immune system, making it harder to fight gum infections. It also hampers gum healing. Seek assistance to quit smoking.
Managing your oral health when you have diabetes is paramount. Primal Life Organics understands the critical link and offers a solution with products that help a compromised mouth environment thrive.
Free from the toxins in commercial toothpaste and mouthwash, our Dental Detox Kit detoxifies while supplying essential minerals for tooth strength. The Real White LED Teeth Whitener not only whitens your teeth, but keeps cavities and gum disease at bay, tackling both the bacteria and inflammation that are common in people with diabetes.
From Toothpowder to Gum Drops, this organic approach helps prevent dental complications associated with diabetes, ensuring a strong and healthy smile.
References:
https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2006/01/light-blitzes-plaque-html#:~:text=Two%20researchers%20at%20the%20Harvard,prime%20cause%20of%20periodontal%20disease
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-report/index.html
https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health-info/diabetes
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/diabetes-oral-health.html
https://diabetes.org/health-wellness/keeping-your-mouth-healthy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5507902/