The infection and gum disease

People with diabetes are two times more at risk of gum disease than people who are not. It is very important to visit your dentist regularly for a dental examination and practice at home oral hygiene conscious.

The different types of problems
What causes gum disease?
Preventing Gum Disease
Treatment of gum disease
When should you call your dentist?
The different types of problems

One disease in which people with diabetes are particularly sensitive is a yeast infection called thrush. It may be manifested by white patches on the tongue and a burning sensation or sensitivity of the mouth. It is believed caused by an increase in the concentration of sugar in the saliva. Is used to treat a variety of drugs sold by prescription and take the form of mouthwash, ointment, tablets and pills.

The phenomenon of dry mouth (also known as xerostomia) is characterized by an inadequate secretion of saliva which makes the act of eating and talking and can cause bad breath and bad taste in my mouth. His treatment includes mouthwash and fluoride gels as well as preparations for artificial saliva sold by prescription only. You can also use solutions that require no prescription, such as chewing gum without sugar, sweets sweetened with sweetener and the mere fact of drinking water.



What causes gum disease?

Diabetes contributes in many ways the development of gum disease:

high blood sugar can damage small blood vessels of the gums, reducing the flow of blood and slows healing
a malfunction of white blood cells may make it difficult to infections of the mouth
the phenomenon of dry mouth can increase the incidence of tooth decay and infections
a higher rate of sugar in the saliva may attract harmful bacteria


Preventing Gum Disease

You can help keep your gums healthy by preventing plaque and tartar. Make sure in particular:

to tell your dentist that you have diabetes
brushing your teeth after every meal
use a soft toothbrush, with nylon bristles with rounded end
to give all sides of your mouth, ie all surfaces of your teeth, gums and your language
brush carefully at the junction of the teeth and gums
daily use of dental floss
visit the dentist every six months for a thorough dental examination and cleaning
to avoid foods containing high concentrations of sugar
not to smoke
practice hygiene conscious of your dentures, if you wear
keep your blood sugar in the target recommended by your doctor


Treatment of gum disease

It may be sufficient to treat gum disease visit the dentist to clean his teeth every six months. If plaque is more serious, a deeper cleaning called scaling may be necessary. In more severe cases, we should see a periodontist (a specialist in gum problems) to treat gum disease.



When should you call your dentist?

Consult your dentist if you notice the following problems:

your gums bleed when you eat or brush your teeth
you have toothache when you eat or drink hot or cold
you have teeth that branlent, lesions or ulcers in the mouth
your dentures do not fit properly over your gums