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Oral health plays a major role in maintaining your overall health. High blood sugar can make it hard to keep your mouth healthy. Diabetes also puts you at a higher risk of developing tooth problems and gum disease. 

Therefore, it is essential to understand the diabetes-oral health connection and learn how to help yourself if you are diabetic.

Keep reading to learn insights on the association between diabetes and oral health from our dental care experts at Samir T. Ayoub Dental Corporation in Bellflower, California.

Oral Health Problems Associated With Diabetes

If your blood sugar is high, your saliva also has a high sugar level. The harmful bacteria in your mouth use sugar to cause harm to your teeth. Common health problems that people with diabetes face are:

Tooth Decay: More sugar in your saliva means more supply of sugar to bacteria. This will increase the production of acids that cause tooth decay.

Gum Disease: Diabetes reduces your body’s fighting and recovering capacity. This makes you more likely to get gum disease.

Dry Mouth: Saliva is the mouth's natural defense. Diabetes can lower the production of saliva and put you at a greater risk of tooth decay and gum disease.

Thrush: High glucose in saliva and dry mouth can contribute to the development of fungal infections like thrush.

Ways to Manage Your Oral Health

People with diabetes require extra care to maintain their oral health. 

Manage Your Diabetes

Follow your doctor’s recommendations to keep your blood sugar levels within the target range. The more control you have over them, the lower the risk of developing gum disease.

Brush and Floss Your Teeth Regularly

It goes without saying that you must maintain your oral hygiene routine at all times. Brush twice a day and floss your teeth once every day to remove plaque. Make sure to use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash for extra care. 

Get Regular Checkups

Visit your dentist at least twice every year and get professional advice on how many visits you require to maintain your dental health. 

Inform your dentist that you have diabetes. This will play a big role in how they manage your treatments.

Quit Smoking

Smoking is bad for your oral health. Quit smoking immediately for your oral and physical well-being.

To learn more about the diabetes-oral health connection and address your dental needs, book an appointment at Samir T. Ayoub Dental Corporation. Call (562) 925-2223 or visit 16505 Clark Ave, Bellflower, California 90706.