Diabetes And Its Effects Oral Tissues

Diabetes And Tooth Decay

One of the side effects of having poorly controlled diabetes is that the level of sugar in the saliva also changes. This increase in sugar changes the ecosystem of microorganisms living inside the mouth and allows more decay-causing bacteria to start to grow. There is also a change in the acidity levels of the saliva, making it more acidic and promoting the destruction of the teeth.

There are abundant statistics to show that poorly controlled diabetic individuals are significantly more likely to suffer from tooth decay than well controlled diabetics and non-diabetic individuals.

Diabetes And Fungal Disease

Oral fungal diseases are almost always seen in individuals that are suffering from some other debilitating disease because of which their immune system is compromised. They are called as opportunistic infections that spread rapidly in individuals incapable of fighting off the threat.

Candidiasis is the most common kind of fungal infection that is reported in diabetic individuals and is characterized by the presence of whitish discoloration in the inside part of the cheeks.

These fungal diseases are mild in nature and resolve easily through the use of anti-fungal drugs and bringing the diabetes under control.

Diabetes And Peri-Implantitis

Dental implants have become the choice of treatment to replace missing teeth and since Diabetic individuals are more likely to lose teeth due to gum disease, it is extremely common for them to get dental implants.

Here is the thing to remember. Implants are integrated into the underlying bone in a different manner from the tooth and are actually more prone to destruction due to inflammation. Thus, poorly controlled diabetic individuals are at a great risk of losing their implant retained restorations if they do not take adequate care of their health.

Of all the risk factors for the loss of dental implants, diabetes and smoking were found to be the most strongly associated. A combination of smoking and diabetes was found to be cumulative in nature and this group of patients has the worst success rate of dental implant restorations.

READ Diabetes Symptoms: A Silent Killer Disease

Well Controlled Diabetics And Oral Diseases   

A clear distinction needs to be made between poorly controlled diabetics and well control diabetics when it comes to all diseases, not just dental diseases. If diabetic individuals are able to practice good dietary habits, follow a recommended exercise regimen and take their drugs on time then their body will respond in the same manner as a non-diabetic individual.

Just having the diagnosis of diabetes does not make a person more prone to developing diseases, however, not being able to take care of the condition does.

Conclusion

Diabetes is a chronic condition that diagnosed individuals have to live with for the rest of their lives. It has numerous effects on different parts of the body and the oral tissues are no different. This particular effect on the gums and teeth though has been ignored by the doctors as being non-life threatening, but now as the focus on quality of life has increased, the importance of educating patients on this aspect has increased as well.