How to avoid the problems of oral health in patients with diabetes.. Attention to oral health and to control the level of sugar in the blood

How to avoid the problems of oral health in patients with diabetes:
1- taking care of your oral health, wash your teeth after every meal (three times daily) brushing.
2- Be sure to control the level of sugar in the blood.
3- Consult a dentist once a year on a regular basis, and in the case of bleeding from the gums, inflammation or dental pain, please feel free to go to your doctor.

In fact, tooth decay and periodontal disease are often thought to be due to excess sugar, toothbrushing and inadequate flossing. However, diabetes and many other factors can also have a negative impact on the health of our mouth.

Are diabetics careless?
diabete-dental-services-expensive-costly-dental-insurance Did you know that:
only 1/3 of diabetics have an annual dental consultation
1 in 2 diabetic patients have a periodontal disease
diabetics are 3 times more likely to have periodontal diseases
only 50% of diabetics recognize the importance of dental follow-up.
Why? Perhaps because of the much higher health care burden for diabetics than for the average person, or because dental services are not covered by universal insurance.

Effects on the glycemic balance:
New studies suggest that the relationship between serious oral problems and the development of diabetes would be two-way. Diabetic patients have a higher risk of developing gum disease that contributes to worsening diabetes by disrupting the balance of blood glucose levels. Diabetes-blood-test-dentist-gatineau-aylmer

Oral complications:
Complications sometimes occur noiselessly and do not show any particular symptoms, but they progress to more severe forms. To avoid such a vicious circle, it is better to know how these complications manifest themselves and what to do to avoid them.
The most common are: fungal infections such as candidiasis, yeast infections in the mouth, increased caries, gingivitis and bone loss associated with periodontal disease and oral inflammation.

Gingivitis:
is an inflammation of the gingiva by deposition of bacteria at the level of the neck of the tooth. It most often results in redness, bleeding at the time of brushing and swelling of the gums.
Diabetes causes inflammation of the blood vessels and decreases blood flow to the tiny gum vessels, which affects gum nutrition and wound healing.
Gingivitis is completely reversible with brushing, flossing and dental hygiene treatments such as scaling and root planing.

Periodontal diseases:
Periodontitis is mainly caused by the build-up of tartar and dental plaque under the gums, which causes pockets of inflammation. As a result, the support tissues gradually become detached from the tooth, the space between the tooth and the gum deepens, resulting in mobility and uprooting of the teeth.
In fact, the person with diabetes tends to lose collagen from their gums, which speeds up the destruction of the periodontium. Collagen is a protein that supports the gums, skin, tendons and bones.

Periodontal treatment:
Periodontal therapy is only intended to prevent irreversible bone loss from worsening over time. Therefore, regular dental hygiene treatments such as scaling and root planing are required.
This treatment aims to reduce the number of pathogens found in the infected periodontium and to remove deposits that stimulate colonization by microbes. Since bacteria cause more damage after 90 days, affected diabetics are advised to receive dental hygiene treatment every 3 months. Dentist Gatineau-descaling-salt-mineral-fluoride

Dental caries:
In diabetics, the increased risk of tooth decay is also a multifaceted problem. Bacteria, acids, food debris combine to form dental plaque that dissolves the enamel and dentine of a tooth to dig cavities.
Cavities can also be caused by side effects of medication and dry mouth that result from poor metabolic control. The studies agree that diabetics have in the mouth a sub-cleaned medium rich in sugar that promotes the formation of bacterial plaque and the proliferation of fungi and yeasts.

Dry mouth:
Xerostomia is defined as a state of dryness in the mouth caused by a lack of saliva production by the salivary glands. In diabetics, the increase in sugar in saliva leads to a decrease in saliva in the mouth. Bououche-seche-new-patient-dentist-gatineau
Having a dry mouth can lead to complications such as tooth decay, because saliva helps to clean the teeth naturally. In addition, lack of moisture leads to the formation of ulcers, fungal infections and difficulty in wearing dentures. One of the best ways to treat xerostomia and the burning sensation is to drink water frequently.

Oral infections:
"Thrush" is another name given to oral yeast infections that affects immunocompromised people, including those with diabetes, those with iron deficiency, or a diet high in carbohydrates.
Oral thrush-mycosis-dentist-mouth-diabetes-hullThis infection is characterized by the presence of a whitish membrane on the surface of the tongue or mucous membranes of the mouth. It is often identified by a lesion resembling milk residue and a bleeding red bleeding base. Oral thrush can be treated with antifungal medications such as nystatin, administered as lozenges.

Tips for diabetics:
Diabetics have specific needs - good communication with your dentist will allow them to tailor their treatment to your illness.
- Inform the dentist of your diabetes and medications
- Bring your latest analysis of HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin)
- Make short appointments, preferably in the morning
- Take meals and insulin normally
Immediately treat an infection or abscess
After treatment, plan a longer healing period
- Ensure a good follow-up after an intervention
- Avoid surgery if blood sugar level is poorly controlled
- Consult the dentist at least twice a year, even without symptoms.

In conclusion:
In diabetics, the feet, teeth and gums need great attention, even in the absence of symptoms. Dental complications can be a sign of a disturbance that aggravates hyperglycemia.
It is therefore very important to mention to the dental hygienist and the dentist any changes in your medical situation. By being well informed, our dentists David Côté and Martin Dubois will be able to advise you as well as possible.
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