Diabetes

There is a direct relationship between diabetes, oral health and dental treatment. About 17 millions Americans have diabetes, and one-third of them are unaware they have the disease, according to the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes is a chronic disease that prevents the body from property producing or using insulin. The disease cannot be cured, only controlled.

Of all the oral-systemic links studied, the evidence for a diabetes connection is one of the strongest, according to University of Pittsburgh Oral Health Science Institute Director Dr. Paul Moore. It also is one of the few cases where signs of a two-way connection have been glimpsed: Not only can uncontrolled or poorly controlled diabetes wreak havoc on the periodontium, but treating periodontal disease may actually help control diabetes, Moore says. “If you were to eliminate the low-grade oral infection associated with diabetes, that could impact on how well insulin functions and overall glycemic control.”

Dentists “absolutely” have a role to play, as research shows that diabetes often manifests in the mouth. People with diabetes tend to have more periodontal disease and more severe periodontal disease.

Diabetics’ high glucose levels create a feast for oral bacteria. Therefore thorough periodontal care and patient education in proper hygiene is crucial.