Diabetes is a serious disease in which the body’s ability to produce insulin – a hormone needed to convert sugar, starches and other foods into energy – is hindered. People who have diabetes know about the adverse effects that the disease can have on their eyes, nerves, heart, kidneys and other systems in the body. What most of them do not know is that diabetes can also cause oral problems.
People with diabetes are at a much greater risk of developing periodontal disease – an infection of the gum and bone that supports the teeth. Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection that can lead to tooth loss if left untreated. It also makes it difficult to control the blood sugar in the body, and can increase the level of sugar in blood, making it crucial for patients with diabetes to visit a dentist in order to have periodontal infections treated and eliminated.
Sadly, some people who have diabetes do not know that they have it because it does not always present warning signs until it becomes too late. Common warning signs of diabetes include:
%u2981 Constant hunger or thirst
%u2981 Frequent urination
%u2981 Blurred vision
%u2981 Constant fatigue
%u2981 Weight loss without trying
%u2981 Poor wound healing (cuts or bruises that are slow to heal)
%u2981 Dry mouth
%u2981 Itchy, dry skin
%u2981 Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
Periodontal disease, however, presents clear warning signs. These warning signs include:
%u2981 Red and swollen gums that often bleed during brushing or flossing and are tender to the touch
%u2981 Gums that have pulled away from the teeth exposing the roots
%u2981 Milky white or yellowish plaque deposits, which are usually heaviest between the teeth
%u2981 Pus between the teeth and gums accompanied by tenderness or swelling in the gum area
%u2981 A consistent foul, offensive odour from the mouth
If you are experiencing any of the above-mentioned warning signs of periodontal disease, contact Corne Smith Dentistry – a dentist in Claremont – today.