When you hear the word “diabetes”, what characteristically comes to mind? High glucose levels. This increased blood sugar can trigger oral issues like infections and pains in your jaw, gum, and teeth. How does diabetes affect oral health?
I will tell you what is happening. Your saliva comprises glucose. When this glucose shoots up – no thanks to diabetes – the growth of harmful bacteria in your mouth is enhanced.
These developing bacteria can synthesize with your food (specifically the starch and sugar components), resulting in plaque formation on the teeth.
The latter is a sticky film and notably soft. Plaques contain harmful acids notorious for attacking the dentin and enamel of the teeth.
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What can you expect from such elevated glucose-inspired plaque?
Tartar commonly develops from hardened plaque. The progressive accumulation of such plaque (typical when the film is not removed promptly) makes it helluva work to clean between the teeth.
Consequently, the gum reddens. This reddening is usually accompanied by swelling and a propensity to bleed. This condition, termed gingivitis, is prominent in diabetes patients.
Such prominence can be traced to the body’s weakened capacity (due to the diabetic condition) to combat bacteria.
Apologies, it can still get worse. When you don’t get medical care for gingivitis, chances are high it could exacerbate into periodontitis.
The latter is a condition where pockets are formed as the teeth increasingly