How does diabetes affect the teeth?

Diabetes is one of the most common and epidemic diseases worldwide that affects different age groups.

Unfortunately, many people with diabetes are not aware of the importance of oral and dental hygiene, and only a small percentage of them have regular visits to the dentist.

Gum disease, tooth loss, dry mouth, tooth decay, mouth burning, taste disturbance, salivary gland dysfunction, delayed wound healing, and candidiasis (a type of fungal disease) are some of the oral manifestations associated with diabetes.

Regular dental examinations are very important for these people, and people with diabetes must be familiar with how to properly care for their teeth.

People with diabetes must inform the dentist about their disease.

Diabetes is a known risk factor (risk factor) for periodontal disease (gum disease), the degree of destruction of periodontal tissue (gums) is related to the level of blood sugar control and the duration of diabetes, which requires proper oral and dental hygiene. And it specifies regular visits to the dentist more than before.

One of the problems and concerns of diabetic patients is the decrease in the amount of saliva in the mouth, the decrease in the amount of saliva reduces the cleaning power of the mouth and can provide the basis for tooth decay.

Changes in eating habits, difficulty in speaking and tolerating dental prostheses in the mouth of diabetics can change the lifestyle of the sufferers and make these patients more exposed to oral infections caused by gum disease and the risk of losing teeth.

Damaged tissues in diabetic people are repaired with a delay, this delay in tissue repair is very effective in cases such as tooth extraction or implant surgeries, and by delaying the healing of wounds, it makes the treatment process difficult.

Patients with controlled diabetes are less likely to experience delayed wound healing after surgery.