Last month, on July 29th, we hosted a lecture on the link between Diabetes and oral health and presented our findings to the Young Diabetic Patients Group. A staggering 50% of the attendees had not paid a visit to the dentist in the last six years. Attendees reported suffering from bleeding gums, and admitted to not flossing or cleaning in-between their teeth at all. When we received this disconcerting feedback, it only served to once more underscore the importance of dental education, particularly for people with Diabetes.
Along with disseminating vital dental care information, we also provide important health services at the Diabetes Dental Care center. We focus on helping patients manage their symptoms and getting their oral health under control.
Here are some important facts on Diabetes and dental care.
People with Diabetes and poor dental habits are more prone to:
- Dry Mouth
- Exacerbated gum disease
- Higher count of oral bacteria
- Increased plaque build-up
- Bad breath
- Bleeding gums
- Mouth ulcers
- Thrush
As bleak as it sounds, these unfortunate side-effects can be easily avoided with the right preventative measures:
- Thoroughly brush and floss at least twice daily
- Stay on top of your check-ups (visit your dentist every 6 months)
- Quit smoking immediately
- If you use dentures, clean them on a regular basis
- Brush your teeth after eating
- Most importantly, regulate blood sugar levels
The best way to ensure you are doing all that you can to protect your teeth and gums is by consulting a dental professional who is an expert in Diabetes oral health. Also, keep in mind that though there is a strong connection between Diabetes and the state of your teeth, your oral health is not past the point of no return. By being armed with the latest information and remaining diligent in your dental care habits, you can steer clear of these unpleasant side-effects, and live a carefree, healthy life.
For more information on Diabetes Dental Care, please visit our website at: https://www.diabetesdentalcare.co.uk/ and feel free to give our staff a call for answers to all your questions. We look forward to helping you gain the upper hand in your fight for dental health.
Sources:
- http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/oral-health-and-hygiene/diabetes-and-oral-health.html
- http://www.londonpid.co.uk/about-gum-disease.html
- http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/dental-health-dental-care-diabetes
- http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/in-depth/diabetes/art-20043848
An outstanding share! I have just forwarded this onto a co-worker who had been doing a little homework on this. And he in fact bought me lunch because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to discuss this issue here on your web page.
Patricia, Thank you so much for your kind words. You don´t know how much this means to me!
I´m sorry for the stupidly late reply! I clearly had´t found all these post replies until now.
Best wishes,
Leticia
I’d love to read a blog about Halloween teeth care. Keep in mind that there are very few parents that will not let their kids eat candy so what do you remecmond for those of us who are going to enjoy a lot of chocolate in the near future? Are there any products that might help make brushing and flossing more fun for my kiddos or get more gunk off their teeth? What is the worst candy/ best candy for their teeth for them to eat? And finally, do you have any suggestions of what else they could do with their candy (ie: I’ve heard of doing science experiements on the candy, sorting, weighing, giving them to homeless shelters???)? Thanks!
Sorry for the very late reply Tushar, I´ve clearly not been doing this properly.
I would recommend putting on a song or timer or something they can distract themselves with while they brush their teeth, so it becomes a bit of a game. Essential that they brush the part of the tooth they bite with (the occlusal surface with the peaks and valleys). Toffee and any sticky candy will be the ones we really need to ensure we brush away.
In any case, kids are kids, and of course they should have a little treat for Halloween. Perhaps a little rule like; you can have x pieces of candy as long as… you do your exercise, you ensure to take your medication/insulin and you make sure you brush your teeth for at least 2-3 minutes before bed.
Good luck and sorry again for the later reply!
Leticia
This is interesting! I enjoyed reading your great post.Thanks for the valuable information and insights you have shared here.
Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement! Really appreciate it. Will keep writing then!