Diabetes and Our Mouth

By: Smileway Dental

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We know that our body is a very interesting subject. Meaning that there are still so much to learn about our body system and how actually it works. Although we have already unfold lots of the secrets but there are times where it is just not enough and there are always more to learn from. We know our body works as a system and a small hindrance or abnormality can cause some other problems in the body. It is not always a direct effect; as one problem can cause other problem to arise and before you know it, it has already cause so many problems, especially when there is sickness or disease and not treating it. So one illness left untreated will cause another sickness, and that is the vicious cycle we face. So today we would like to talk about diabetes and actually how diabetes can have an impact in our oral health. ​

In the normal circumstances, when we take in food, our body starts to receive sugar. And these sugars are being used in our body for energy. So our body will produce insulin to convert sugar into energy. Insulin are important in our body. If you do not have insulin to convert the sugars into energy, there will be too much sugar running in our body which can harm our body. An example of that would be diabetes.

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We know that our body is a very interesting subject. Meaning that there are still so much to learn about our body system and how actually it works. Although we have already unfold lots of the secrets but there are times where it is just not enough and there are always more to learn from. We know our body works as a system and a small hindrance or abnormality can cause some other problems in the body. It is not always a direct effect; as one problem can cause other problem to arise and before you know it, it has already cause so many problems, especially when there is sickness or disease and not treating it. So one illness left untreated will cause another sickness, and that is the vicious cycle we face. So today we would like to talk about diabetes and actually how diabetes can have an impact in our oral health. ​

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In the normal circumstances, when we take in food, our body starts to receive sugar. And these sugars are being used in our body for energy. So our body will produce insulin to convert sugar into energy. Insulin are important in our body. If you do not have insulin to convert the sugars into energy, there will be too much sugar running in our body which can harm our body. An example of that
Usually when someone has diabetes, it is usually type 2 diabetes. So the result in any of the diabetes, there is an increase of sugar in your body which is not converted into energy for our daily use. And if left untreated it can cause lots of harm to our body. These sugars that is in our body will damage our blood vessels and vital organs. There is an increase in heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and nerve problems. It can also affect your eye vision and not to mention increase problems in your mouth. ​

In Malaysia alone the International Diabetes Federation has noted that there are around 3.3 millionpeople in Malaysia who are suffering from diabetes and the numbers are rising. So it is essential to get those diabetes control as it can really do harm to your body.

Diabetes puts you at risk for dental problems because having high blood sugar encourages bacteria to grow and can have an impact on your mouth. Below are some of the main problems your mouth might be facing if diabetes is uncontrolled. The more serious your diabetic problem is, the higher the risk of these diseases.

Tooth Decay – The risk of tooth decay increases because there are high levels of sugar in your saliva and bacteria loves sugar and so does tooth decay. Constant sugar in your mouth increase risk of tooth decay.

Gum diseases / Periodontal Disease – Since there are lots of sugars in the saliva, bacteria easily build up around you mouth. And if those are not removed they will form dental calculus (tartar) which will eventually cause problems to your gums and your bones. Your gums might swell and affect your teeth. If no treatments are done the tooth can be mobile and eventually the tooth might need to be extracted.

Dry Mouth – Some people with diabetes complain of dry mouth as it can be due to the medication taken. Dry mouth can increase risk of cavities because saliva is to help flush out bacteria and food from our mouth. In turn with less saliva, you have a higher risk of gums diseases which is one of the factors for bad breath. It can also lead to salivary gland problems.

Fungal Infections – Having diabetes, you are more prone to fungal infection, especially if you are taking too much antibiotics and diabetes in not controlled. Oral thrush might occur, as these are white patches in your mouth and can become ulcers.

Infections and delay healing – If diabetes is not controlled and if your oral hygiene is bad, you might end up with lots of infections and thus healing will be difficult. One of the tricks to be healthy is to get rid of infections in our body. Infection build up through time and can cause serious problems to our heart, kidneys, or even to our nerves and blood vessels.

These are the 5 most common problems people with uncontrolled diabetic are facing. So is it the end of the world if I have diabetes? Well, certainly no, but one must take in control of their own health, and one must be responsible of their own well-being and actions.  Have a quick medical checkup with your medical clinic, to find out if you have diabetes. If you have diabetes please take precautions in your life style. Ask yourself are you taking your medication, eating well, or are you doing regular exercise? Ask yourself, what are the things you are doing to help yourself to become healthier? Medication will not solve the problems you are facing, because medications are always temporary. This is because having a habit to maintain good health is the key to solve almost every diseases.

Ask yourself, are you visiting the dental clinic often for a dental checkup? Having a habit to go to the dentist for a check up every 6 months is another step for a greater health. There are things in the mouth a dentist can identify so that we can prevent a disease from happening. It is always better to treat it early than waiting. So call you dentist or medical doctor to get yourself a checkup, as they say:

“There is never a Right Time to start, so start right now.”
“Your road to a healthier life start from yourself.”

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Nayantara Soni profile picture
Nayantara Soni
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Going to the dentist obviously isn't my favourite thing to do so I've been putting off my visit way too long. I was pleasantly surprised after my appointment with Dr Edwin. He and his team were very assuring and there was barely any pain/discomfort during and after my scaling/polishing appointment.
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Lee Chin Weng profile picture
Lee Chin Weng
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Been here for 2nd time with different dentist. What I can say is service done excellent. Patience. Skill. Advice. Recommended to all.
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Sheryl Ng profile picture
Sheryl Ng
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Dr Belinda did my composite veneer 7 years ago and she changed my life. They lasted well over the expected time (~6 years +) and I just recently got them redone. She is so professional, pure dedication to her craft and makes me feel confident when I smile, it’s all thanks to Dr Belinda. Thank you Doc! 🦷❤️
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Rolando Navia II profile picture
Rolando Navia II
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The doctors are so professional and so kind😊.. I didn't even feel any pain till now after extracting my two teeth☺️💯
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Sylvia Goh profile picture
Sylvia Goh
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It was my first visit to this clinic and the experience was very reassuring. Dr Lisa was excellent and clearly explained the condition of my teeth and painful gum. Staff was friendly too. Highly recommended 👍🏻
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Nicole Fu profile picture
Nicole Fu
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Time really flies—it's been 7 amazing years since I started coming to Smileway Dental for my regular check-ups, and I couldn’t be more grateful. Dr. Edwin and Dr. Jon are both incredibly professional, gentle, and genuinely caring. They have a way of making you feel completely at ease, even if you're someone who’s usually nervous about dental visits. I came to Smileway Dental after a traumatic experience during a wisdom tooth extraction at another clinic, and honestly, I've been “stuck” here ever since—in the best possible way! Their approach is calm, thorough, and always with your comfort in mind. I've also recommended several friends to Smileway, and they’ve all raved about the quality of service—especially for braces and dental scaling. Everyone agrees: the team here is warm, welcoming, and truly skilled. Highly recommend for anyone looking for long-term, reliable, and heartwarming dental care! 💙🦷
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Desmond Lin Hon Kai profile picture
Desmond Lin Hon Kai
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My favourite denal clinic for my whole family. Professional services especially Dr Jon and Dr Edwin. Clear information given and I always feel comfortable and confident with their services 😊.Well done 👍
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Pauline (leneé) profile picture
Pauline (leneé)
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Met Dr Jon Low some years ago. Really nice dentist. Super & excellent well versed in his practice. Has been with him for many years now. Recently I have been thinking about a ceramic tooth in-plant.. Needed to consider carefully as it's not cheap at all... But if I ever do decide to go for it, there's no one better suited than Dr Jon with the procedure. I trust him fully. Their staff are friendly, polite & nice. It's so good to see that he has expended. We are super happy for him! & best of all, he knows a lot about the safe protocol removal of amalgam. Perfect!
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michelle kim profile picture
michelle kim
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Great experience with Dr Belinda! My 9 yo son and I will always go to her and because of Dr Belinda gentleness, my son is not afraid to go to the dentist. Dr Belinda is also very precised and will do any treatment perfectly. 👍🏻👍🏻

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