Diabetes affects thousands of people in the UK each year and if you are one of them you may know that diabetes can affect your nerves, kidneys and heart but you may not have been told how it can affect your teeth. Diabetes can have very negative effects on your oral health because it lowers your resistance to infection and also slows recovery time.
Dental problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, fungal infections and taste impairment are all associated with diabetes and its effects on the health of your mouth. If you are a diabetic, it is important to let your dentist know when you were diagnosed and any medication you may be taking.
If you are a diabetic the chances of suffering from a serious problem of tooth decay or disease are greatly heightened so you must contact your Everton dentist if you notice anything unusual about your teeth. This could include bleeding gums, swollen or tender gum tissue, persistent bad breath or bad taste or any change in your bite.
It is also important, even more so than for none sufferers, that you make regular visits to the dentist to check for the first signs of dental problems. Dentists recommend that everybody should see a dentist every six months but if you have diabetes it may need to be more often. In addition, it is important to keep up a very strict routine of oral hygiene, brushing and flossing correctly for the suggested time each day and making sure your teeth are free from plaque and tartar.
Tags: diabetes, gum disease, tooth decay