3 Problems to Avoid with Your Oral Health When You Have Type 2 Diabetes.

We've talked about complications before, and I'm sure you are aware of them. There's problems with the small and large arteries. And that includes arteries to the retina, which can cause blindness. Arteries that go to the kidneys that become compromised and that can lead to dialysis. And then there's amputation of the feet and lower limbs. There's heart attack and stroke. All of these are major complications.

If diabetes goes uncontrolled, one thing I don't want you to forget about is your oral health.

• The first thing is periodontal disease also known as gum disease.

When you have problems there, your gums are going to look swollen and they're going to bleed when you brush and floss, and that's going to lead to pain, and it's going to lead to chewing difficulties. It's going to lead to tooth loss, and it's going to lead to bad breath that won't really go away, no matter what you do.

• The second thing is dry mouth.

Saliva in the mouth does a lot of stuff. There's a lot of buffers in there. There's enzymes in there. There's calcium in there for remineralization of your teeth and bones.

When your saliva is low and you have dry mouth, that creates a lot of problems.This includes soreness and ulcers, painful infection, and tooth decay.

• The third one is something called Thrush.

If you have had young children, at some point, you probably know something about this. Thrush is a fungal infection in the mouth that can occur in other places as well. But this is in the mouth, and that leads to white patches that are very painful.

These complications happen for two reasons. One, because when your blood sugar is high, you will have more blood sugar in your bloodstream. You'll also have more blood sugar in your saliva. Your teeth and gums are exposed to more sugar.

That's definitely where the fungal infections are going to come in. Fungus loves sugar.

The other issue is people who have diabetes have a slower time healing. It takes a lot longer. So if you get a cut or something, you'll notice it just really takes a long time to heal. Sometimes, it doesn't seem like it's healing. It just takes a long time. And that's because again, blood sugar is too high.

So what do we do about it?

Well, of course, the first thing you do is go and see your dentist for a good cleaning. And perhaps you will be referred to a periodontist.

You need your gums intact to hold your teeth in place.

For dry mouth and for Thrush, there are medicines that your dentist and doctor can give you.

I want to encourage you to do these things:

Number one, get your blood sugar under control. That's the key.

Second, when you get up in the morning, drink between eight and 16 ounces of water. Just drink it right down before you brush your teeth and that's going to help hydrate your body because you haven't had anything to drink all night. It's also going to wash away a lot of the bacteria that's built up in your mouth overnight.

Next, brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss every day.

See your dentist on a regular basis. I know it's not fun. I know some people have real issues with going to the dentist; my brother is one of them. But you will be so much happier if you take care of your oral health!

Finally, if you are a smoker, do everything in your power to stop.

If you have questions and you'd like to talk with me about your diabetes, please click here and schedule a free health chat.

Thank you so much for listening.

Dr. Elaine

This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider for advice about a specific medical condition.