Unlocking a Diabetes Defense: The Surprising Role of Oral Hygiene

• Adults with diabetes who are 20 years or older are 40% more likely to have untreated cavities than adults without diabetes.
• Severe tooth loss is 50% higher in people with diabetes.
• People with diabetes are 3x more likely to get periodontitis.

Let’s dig into the complex linkage between diabetes and oral health.

Inflammation increases blood glucose

Periodontal disease, a serious gum infection, is incredibly common: 47.2% of Americans 30 and older have some form of gum disease. While unfortunately common, it’s also harmful to the whole body.

Gum disease causes inflammation in the mouth; inflammation is the body’s natural reaction to infection and helps heal injuries and ailments. However, inflammation, especially persistent or chronic inflammation, has other consequences — including its ability to increase blood glucose. Increased blood glucose over long periods of time — hyperglycemia — can cause permanent damage to major organs and could even lead to life-threatening dehydration. It’s also a hallmark of diabetes.

Further, Type 1 Diabetes is now considered to be an immunological response, not a metabolic disorder. Preliminary trials have shown anti-inflammatory medications to be promising in treating Type 1 Diabetes, which further corroborates the connection between inflammation and this disease.

Chronic inflammation may increase insulin resistance

One study found that inflammatory stress was correlated with insulin resistance and metabolic disease. Chronic inflammation can also damage insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, which can cause even more inflammation —worsening the issues discussed above.

Diabetes can worsen oral health issues

One of the many side effects of diabetes is dry mouth, which exacerbates oral health conditions. Saliva is essential for oral health; it neutralizes harmful acids, protects the teeth from decay, wards off gum disease, and protects the enamel. It also helps heal wounds in the mouth.

When saliva is in short supply, the teeth and gums are at higher risk of decay and infection. This side effect of diabetes is one of the culprits behind the reason why people with diabetes more commonly have oral health issues than people without diabetes.

Oral health is whole-body health

Dentists, endocrinologists, and the medical community at large are continuing to uncover the complex links between oral health and diabetes, but what’s not in question is that caring for your mouth supports your whole-body wellness. Proper brushing and flossing, along with regular dental appointments, can be powerful preventative measures that ward off some of the deadliest diseases.