Diabetes and Our 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: