Every day more and more Americans are becoming diagnosed with diabetes. Unfortunately, many of us continue to maintain a poor diet without a significant amount of exercise. Although this disease can present itself in many undesirable ways, today we are going to look at how diabetes can specifically affect your dental health.
Most people understand that gum disease is something that they want to avoid. This inflammatory condition does a lot more than affecting the gums, and making them red and puffy. Gum disease progresses beyond the gum line and beyond the mouth. Ultimately, infection of the mouth can cause tooth loss and bone loss, and, subsequently, a loss of confidence. Some studies even show that the bacteria in an unhealthy heart are also found in infected gums.
People with diabetes are at a high risk for gum disease, and therefore will require a more focused and personalized dental care. Diabetes puts a toll on the immune system and those patients naturally become more prone to infection. Unfortunately, most patients with uncontrolled diabetes start losing teeth and become candidates for false, removable teeth. Knowing this, it is important to be strategic and discuss your health with your primary care physician and your dentist.
Dr. Beroukhim is a Culver City Dentist; danberoukhimdds@gmail.com