According to the American Dental Association (ADA), about 30 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. That is around 9% of the population. About 8 million people do not know they are diabetic.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes affects the body's ability to produce sugar. The foods you eat are turned into sugar for energy. Type 1 diabetes is a disease where the body does not make sufficient insulin, or the hormone that transports sugar from the blood to the cells. The other type of diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, is an illness where the body stops responding to the insulin in the body. Both types of diabetes lead to high levels of blood sugar, which can lead to problems with the heart, kidneys, nerves, eyes, and gums and teeth.
How Diabetes Affects Oral Health
Diabetes is characterized by symptoms, such as excessive thirst, frequent urination, and high blood sugar. The condition can lead to fatigue and weight loss as well. If the blood sugar falls too low, the patient may lose consciousness. Also, if the illness is not treated, the patient has a greater risk of getting gum disease. Other oral symptoms include dry mouth, decay, inflamed and bleeding gums, problems with taste, delayed wound healing of mouth lesions, added susceptibility to mouth infections, or an earlier eruption of teeth in children. Periodontal disease is the most common dental problem for people diagnosed with diabetes.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, it is important to visit us every 3 or 6 months to have your gums and teeth checked. If you notice any dental changes as well, you need to contact our office. Give us a call today if you are diabetic and let us help you with any dental concerns. By scheduling a professional deep cleaning or root scaling and planing, we can help you in reducing your HbA1c. That way, you can take better control over your diabetes as well as your oral health.
Dentist Eagle Mountain UT | Contact Ranches Family Dental The dental office of Dr. Richard Baldwin in Eagle Mountain consists of a team of professionals dedicated to providing you with the dentistry care you deserve. Ranches Family Dental, 3435 E. Pony Express Parkway Suite 110 Eagle Mountain, UT 84005 ~ (385) 374-0500 ~ ranchesfamilydental.com ~ 12/6/2024 ~ Related Phrases: dentist Eagle Mountain UT ~
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), about 30 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. That is around 9% of the population. About 8 million people do not know they are diabetic.