Oral Health + Diabetes
In honor of National Diabetes Month, I wanted to call attention to the important correlation between diabetes and oral health. Now you might be thinking, how are diabetes and oral health related? I will tell you! It’s all about inflammation—the culprit of almost every disease.
While there is no clear evidence that diabetes causes periodontal disease or vice versa (not yet!), there is definitely a correlation between oral health and diabetes. What is known is that the five bacteria found in the mouth responsible for causing chronic inflammation (Aa, Td, Tf, Pg, and Fn) can damage the pancreas’ ability to create and secrete insulin, increasing the risk for diabetes. These five bacteria are thought to be the most responsible for causing chronic inflammation that could lead to diseases, like diabetes.
Now let’s talk diabetes—cells need sugar; it’s how they get the energy to operate. The production of insulin allows the body to pick up sugar from the bloodstream and take it into cells for use. There are two types of diabetes - Type 1 and Type 2 (real creative naming). Type 1 is generally an autoimmune disorder, not preventable, and occurs with bad luck. Type 2 diabetes has the same effects as Type 1, but this version is often attributed to lifestyle and diet and is mostly preventable. So, when your doctor or dentist tells you it’s time to quit the sugar, hit the gym, and get plenty of sleep, they are serious!
A lack of saliva is a huge sign and symptom to look out for when it comes to diabetes. Diabetics often have dry mouth (xerostomia), where teeth become “sticky” and bacteria eat away at the mineral exterior causing rampant cavities. Diabetics will also have pale, cracked tongues and cracked or crusty corners of the mouth / lips (angular cheilitis) due to fungal overgrowth from sugar. Throw in pale tissue on the inside of the mouth and you’ve hit the symptom trifecta!
While we can’t avoid sugar (it’s the absolute worst!) completely, it’s important to be mindful of the foods you are consuming. Your diet contributes greatly to the bacteria and fungus that grow in your mouth, and sugar is a breeding ground for all the gross stuff—say hello to cavities! Cavities along the gum line are a huge indicator that there may be more going on in your mouth.
When it comes to fighting disease, dentists can be the first people to recognize signs of diabetes. Let’s recap the five main symptoms to look out for: cracked tongue, cracked corners of the lips, crust around the corners of the mouth, cavities along the gum line, pale tissue on the inside of the mouth, and of course bleeding gums. If you notice any of these symptoms, run (don’t walk!) to your dentist’s office today. Through routine dental appointments (I’m talking about more than twice a year!), additional inflammatory and bacterial testing, and working hand-in-hand with your physician, dentists can get ahead of diabetes or identify the disease before it significantly impacts your health.
For more information about diabetes and oral health, check out Saved By the Mouth.
