Contents:
- Medical Video: Diabetes Signs and Symptoms (2018)
- Mouth problems can be an early sign and symptom of diabetes
- So, mouth disorders can be an early sign and symptom of diabetes?
- What should be done to maintain healthy teeth and mouth?
Medical Video: Diabetes Signs and Symptoms (2018)
For those of you who often experience oral health problems, be careful you might actually have diabetes. Yes, some experts claim that mouth problems can be an early symptom of diabetes.
Mouth problems can be an early sign and symptom of diabetes
Many studies have found that someone who has diabetes is more susceptible to periodontal disease, such as gum disease and cavities. But if this statement is reversed, is there a connection? Can having mouth problems cause diabetes?
The answer is yes. Oral health and the risk of diabetes can be mutually causal factors. Reporting from the Endocrine Society, a recent study found that poor oral health can increase the risk of diabetes.
According to Raynald Samoa, M.D., an assistant professor from the Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism at the City of Hope National Medical Center, dental examinations can be one way to determine whether a person has diabetes or not. Together with Samoa, the researchers found that the problem of dislodging teeth could indicate a disturbance in your blood sugar regulation system.
In another study published in the Journal of Dental Research in 2011, dentists have managed to detect 73 percent of diabetes cases through dental examination by looking at the number of dislodged teeth and the severity of the gums. That is, dental and mouth problems can be observed before a person begins to develop diabetes.
So, mouth disorders can be an early sign and symptom of diabetes?
The mouth is the main door to the entry of food into the body. The mouth becomes the perfect environment for bacteria to breed. If it continues to be left, this will trigger tooth and mouth problems.
In healthy people, the immune system will easily fight bacteria in the mouth. But in people with diabetes, the body becomes more susceptible to infection.
Because the condition of unstable blood sugar can reduce the immune system response so that resistance to infection is not optimal. As a result, bacterial growth becomes more rapid and causes gum infection. Therefore, experiencing certain mouth disorders can be the first detection tool of diabetes.
People who have diabetes, can even experience serious gum problems. Because the increased blood sugar levels make bacteria get more food.
So, you should do a routine dental check so that oral health can continue to be monitored.
What should be done to maintain healthy teeth and mouth?
The main step that you have to do of course is to maintain healthy teeth and mouth, which is to brush your teeth regularly and check your teeth every six months.
Not only does it prevent the development of bacteria that nest in the mouth, it can also help you control blood sugar levels in the body from spikes.
In addition, you also need to check blood sugar levels regularly to see if you have diabetes or not. This is also useful for preventing the development of dental and oral problems.
If you already have diabetes, immediately tell your dentist to get the right diabetes medication to control your blood sugar levels.