Four Things You Need To Know About Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene As A Diabetic

A diabetes diagnosis can make it tricky to maintain an optimal level of health, and this includes oral health. Fortunately, if your diabetes is under control, there are steps that you can take to improve your chances of maintaining superior oral hygiene, such as:

1. Keeping Your Blood Sugar at the Recommended Level is Key to Keeping Your Teeth Healthy

The most important thing you can to keep your health is to take steps to keep your blood sugar levels stabilized. For some patients, this can be done on a diet alone. However, others require insulin injections and a daily medication to prevent wild fluctuations in their blood sugar readings.

If your blood sugar is too high, this increases your likelihood of suffering from thrush, a type fungal infection that feeds off sugar. Unhealthy blood sugar levels also make it difficult for any cuts or lacerations in your mouth to heal, increasing your risk of a possible infection.

2. You May Need to Take Additional Steps to Combat Gum Disease

Individuals with diabetes are at a higher risk of suffering from gum disease. Research also indicates that diabetic individuals who suffer from gum disease have a harder time maintaining stable blood sugar levels. 

Since diabetes, in general, makes it harder for your body to fight off infection, it also makes it trickier for your mouth to ward off bad bacteria that contribute to unhealthy gums.

Aside from keeping your blood sugar levels under control, make sure that you brush and floss daily and visit the dentist as recommended. If you have beginning signs of gingivitis, you may need to visit your dentist more frequently to get it under control.

3. Smoking Will Exasperate Any Issues That You Have With Your Teeth

If you smoke or use tobacco products, now is the time to stop. Smoking increases the chance that your plaque accumulates on your teeth. It also further decreases your body's ability to fight off infection, raising your chance of suffering gum disease to an even more troubling level.

4. Dry Mouth Is More Than Just a Pesky Side Effect

One common complaint from individuals suffering from diabetes is that they tend to suffer from dry mouth. Dry mouth is more than just an annoying side effect; it can also play a role in the formation of tooth decay. If your mouth is dry, this is an indication that your mouth is not producing enough saliva to bathe the teeth and wash away food particles.

Your dentist can prescribe products to assist with dry mouth. Check out a website like http://www.brooksidedentalgroup.com for more information and assistance. 


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