People with diabetes are more likely to develop oral diseases such as tooth decay and gum disease.
Particularly people with diabetes who are over the age of 50 are at higher risk for oral disease because dental problems are strongly associated with age, regardless of whether or not you have diabetes.
The good news is that controlling diabetes can be very helpful in protecting both teeth and gums, and in turn, protecting teeth and gums can help control diabetes.
If you have diabetes, watch out for these oral conditions, especially for those who are over 100 years old.
Gingivitis
Gum disease is the most common oral disease in people with diabetes.
The first stage of gum disease is called gingivitis, and this occurs when bacteria cause the gums to bleed, turn red, and feel painful.
Bacteria like to feed on sugar, converting it into acids that are harmful to teeth, and if diabetes is not controlled, saliva can contain more sugar, providing a free feast to bacteria.
Bacteria that collect on your teeth combine with saliva and food debris to form plaque, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease when plaque builds up on your teeth.
Regular brushing and flossing, as well as rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash, can remove bacteria and prevent gingivitis.
Periodontitis
If left untreated, gingivitis can develop into periodontitis, a more serious form of gum disease that eats away at the bone and tissue that support the teeth, and in the worst cases, patients can even lose their teeth.
If patients don’t floss and brush regularly for cleaning, bacteria and plaque can build up on the patient’s teeth, which can cause the gums to detach from the teeth, bacteria to enter the gums, and attack more and more parts of the mouth, including the bone.
Periodontitis cannot be reversed, cannot be treated by brushing and flossing alone, must be seen by a dentist, and in severe cases, the dentist may even refer the patient to a periodontist, or even, in some cases, require gum surgery to save the tooth.
Dry mouth
Diabetes and increasing age both slow saliva production, especially in women, which can put patients at risk for dry mouth, which doctors may refer to as xerostomia.
Saliva produces enzymes that attack bacteria that would otherwise grow uncontrollably.
Dry mouth can lead not only to sores and ulcers, but also to more tooth decay and gum disease.
Infections
Bacteria aren’t the only organisms that like sugar; so do fungi, which is why yeast infections called thrush are common in people with diabetes.
Termoid can cause white or red patches on the inside of the tongue and cheeks, and in some cases, thrush can develop into open sores.
The likelihood of developing thrush is greater if you wear dentures, smoke, or take antibiotics. Yeast thrives on the extra sugar in saliva and is particularly fond of the moist patches under loose dentures.
Scrush is just one of the oral infection risks for people with diabetes, and there are other types of infections, such as other fungal infections.
Burning mouth syndrome
Both thrush and dry mouth can lead to burning mouth syndrome, in addition to certain medications, including some high blood pressure medications.
In addition to the sensation of burning the mouth with coffee, the patient’s mouth may feel tingly or numb.
Patients may lose some sense of taste, although this can also be caused by aging.
This is not really harmful unless the patient adds sugar to the food to compensate for the lack of taste, but it can increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Slowed wound healing
Patients may have noticed that wounds and infections take longer to heal, which is one of the complications of diabetes and aging.
At the same time, patients are at increased risk for infections, which, combined with slower healing, can take longer to heal if there are problems with the gums or teeth, and even, the situation can deteriorate quickly.
In addition, this is a problem after dental procedures.
With well-controlled blood sugar levels, daily brushing and flossing, and rinsing with an antibacterial mouthwash, patients can prevent most tooth and gum disease.