November is Diabetes Awareness Month.
Our Woodbridge, VA dental care team wants to bring light to the impact diabetes can have on oral health. Many patients are unaware of the negative toll diabetes can take on the gums and teeth. While most conditions correlated between diabetes and oral health can be managed with diligent oral hygiene, it is also important to visit the dentist at least twice a year. Dr. Joseph Cavallo may recommend patients with diabetes visit more frequently to help prevent the spread of diabetes-related oral health concerns.
How does diabetes impact my oral health?
Diabetes can compromise the immune system, leaving the body more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections. How does this impact the health of your teeth and gums? The oral cavity is full of bacteria, some are good, while others cause harmful oral diseases like gum disease and thrush. When the bodies immune system is not fighting at full force, the patient becomes more likely to develop gum disease, the number one cause of tooth loss.
Gum disease is a progressive bacterial infection of the gums. As the bacteria multiply and spread they form deep pockets in the gum and cause inflammation. Over time the gums swell and begin to pull away from the teeth. Teeth can shift, become loose, and even fall out.
According to the ADA (American Dental Associations), patients who have diabetes and keep their blood sugar balanced are less likely to develop gum disease.
Patients with diabetes can typically control the effects of gum disease through proactive oral health care. Brushing and flossing are any patient’s first defense against bacterial infections of the oral cavity. Dr. Cavallo provides comprehensive and personalized dental exams that can help patients catch the spread of disease-causing bacteria or fungus early on in development, allowing for more conservative treatment. Dr. Cavallo and our Woodbridge, VA dental care team can make personal recommendations for patients with diabetes so that they can keep their teeth and gums as healthy as possible.
Contact our Woodbridge, VA dentist office to request a personal consultation with Dr. Jospeh Cavallo and learn more about how diabetes links your oral and physical health.
