What is the Relationship between Diabetes and Gum Disease?

When it comes to your dental health, it is important to look at your overall health and wellness to understand more about why you are experiencing certain dental problems. The human body contains many small systems, and everything is connected in some way. For example, you might have a seemingly unrelated health problem that could be impacting your dental health.

Diabetes and Gum Disease Connection

In recent years, it has been found that people with diabetes have a higher risk of periodontal disease compared with other people who don’t have diabetes. In fact, gum disease is such a common problem among diabetics that gum disease is now considered a complication of diabetes. Why is there a connection between diabetes and gum disease?

Some doctors have suggested that people with diabetes have a higher risk for infection, so it is more common for their gums to become infected. On the other hand, it might be possible that gum disease makes it harder for people to control their blood sugar levels.

Diabetes Treatment Protects Your Gums

If you want to avoid the complication of gum infections, then you need to focus on keeping your diabetes in check. By managing your blood sugar levels, it is possible that you will also experience a decrease in gum related problems at the same time. People who don’t manage their diabetes have a higher risk of gum disease.

Another important step to protect your dental health is to talk with our team about dental treatment options that are available. Make sure that you share details about your diabetes, so that your dental providers understand the full situation and how your overall health may be impacting your dental health.

Treating your gum disease complications right away is essential to protect your teeth. Severe gum disease can lead to tooth loss, and it is more common for diabetics to lose teeth due to gum disease when they don’t have control over their blood sugar levels.

When you have been diagnosed with gum disease, there are several treatments that might be considered. Common gum disease treatments include plaque removal to get rid of the hardened plaque that is in the area of the infected tissue. It is also possible to use certain types of antibiotics and mouth rinses to reduce the infection.

If your gums are irritated or you suspect that you are suffering from gum disease, then it is important to schedule a dental checkup right away. Contact our Bridgeport dental office for more information!