There is one condition that leads directly to around one in every five instances of tooth loss. This might be something that you wouldn’t expect, but as an auto-immune condition, it affects many areas of your body. This is referring to diabetes, which currently affects at least 29 million Americans.
Both forms of diabetes, Type I and Type I, can cause lasting damage to your smile in a few different ways. This can lead to damage in the capillaries, or the smallest form of blood vessels that we have in our body. Also, our release of glucose within our saliva can lead to decay from bacterial growth. Today, your West Allis, WI dentist explains how your auto-immune health concerns may pose problems with your smile, and the best ways to proect yourself!
Creating Your Own Problems
Diabetes refers to some form of a disconnect with your body and the production of the hormone insulin. With Type I diabetes, the body does not produce this vital hormone. Type II refers to when our bodies develop a resistance to the insulin that we do create.
This hormone allows our cells to absorb the carbohydrates from our blood. Without this appropriately dispersing the food for our cells, the glucose can build up within the bloodstream. This is referred to as hyperglycemia, and it is dangerous to our health in many different ways. Your cells are starved, while your blood has too much!
During this period, your body will try to expel excess sugars through urine and saliva. Until you rein your numbers back down to a healthy level, you will be cultivating bacteria. It’s like constantly drinking soda, and no amount of brushing can fully remove it, as we continue to produce saliva.
Maintain Your Levels
When the body is creating these excess fluids, it uses up all of our excess water in our body, leaving us badly dehydrated. Dry mouth is a serious concern that can lead to periodontal disease. Without our saliva to wash away this bad bacteria, your gums may recede, exposing the roots of your teeth. This leaves them vulnerable to an infection.
When your teeth become infected, the most likely result is a root canal, or even an extraction. A root canal surgery is a procedure where the interior fleshy portion of the tooth is removed. The connections to your jaw are sealed shut using a material known as gutta-percha. This is a putty that is derived from a plant, and it is used as a sealant.
The best way that you can avoid damage to your mouth on account of your diabetes is to closely monitor your blood sugar levels. When your numbers are within a healthy range, you will operate as a healthy individual. You have the power!
Do You Have Questions About Your Smile?
If you are diabetic, your oral health matters! For more information or to schedule an appointment, please reach out to Dr. Stubbs in West Allis, WI, by calling (414) 541-8250.
