Showing posts with label Diabetes and Oral Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Diabetes and Oral Health. Show all posts

Wednesday, 18 December 2013

New Teeth Experts in New York: Understanding Diabetes and Your Oral Health, PART 2

This two-part article series provides an in-depth look at the relationship between diabetes and oral health and how Rutherford residents living with this condition can better protect their teeth and gums.


Welcome to Part 2 of our article series on the link between diabetes and oral health. In the first installment, we spoke to a new teeth specialist in New York about the impacts this disease has upon the health of patients’ teeth and gums. Now, we shall take a brief look at how gum disease is treated and what New York residents living with diabetes can do to mitigate the damage done to their oral health.

Gum Disease Treatment


Dental Implants Dentist in Stamford CT
The course of treatment prescribed by your dental healthcare practitioner will really depend on the severity of your condition. “In its beginning stages, gum disease can usually be successfully treated with a course of anti-biotic medication and rinses, a thorough professional cleaning and/or an improved home oral hygiene routine,” says a dental implants dentist in Stamford CT. “If, however, your condition has advanced and there are deep pockets of infection surrounding your teeth, you will likely need to undergo one or more dental procedures to eliminate the diseased tissue and infection and reduce the depth of these pockets.”

Having diabetes can render these procedures somewhat tricky, because this disease slows the rate at which its sufferers heal. Post-operative healing will have to be closely monitored to ensure that infection doesn’t set in again. Your dentist may prescribe a course of anti-biotic medication as a precaution. Additionally, diabetics will need to have their blood sugar levels carefully controlled before and after their procedures.

Minimizing the Oral Health Risks of Diabetes


New TeethAll of this can sound somewhat frightening. No one enjoys the prospect of oral surgery, so the very best philosophy New York residents living with diabetes can adopt is to prevent rather than cure! “If you have been diagnosed with diabetes you must first accept that you will need to spend a little more time and spend a little more effort on looking after your teeth and gums,” explains a new teeth specialist in New York. “You should tell your dentist about your condition and ask him or her for advice on home oral hygiene care. You will also need to go for more frequent check-ups and professional cleanings as a part of the preventative healthcare regime that will keep your oral health in check.”

Here’s some general advice for New York residents living with diabetes:

1. Brush your teeth for two minutes at a time and brush three times a day.

2. Floss your teeth every day, preferably before you go to bed at night.

3. Make use of an anti-bacterial mouthwash to really keep your mouth clean of the oral bacteria that cause gum disease.

4. “Keep a close eye on the health of your gums,” advises a dental implants dentist in Stamford CT. “If you ever notice any bleeding when you brush or floss, or swelling and inflammation, be sure to notify your dentist as soon as possible.”

5. As a diabetic, you should have your teeth professionally cleaned at least twice a year. Remember, you are more prone to infection than people without this condition, so you will need to be extra thorough in your approach to keeping your mouth clean.

6.“You must absolutely tell your dentist and oral hygienist that you have diabetes,” urges a new teeth expert in New York. “This will help them devise a preventative treatment schedule that will protect your teeth and gums. You should also let them know of any over-the-counter and prescription medications you might be on.”

A Final Note


By taking extra special care of your oral health, you can offset the damage done by diabetes and keep your smile beautiful and healthy for far longer. Work closely with your dentist to achieve your goals and keep smiling!

Tuesday, 10 December 2013

New Teeth Professionals in Rutherford NJ: Understanding Diabetes and Your Oral Health, PART 1

This two-part article series provides an in-depth look at the relationship between diabetes and oral health and how Rutherford residents living with this condition can better protect their teeth and gums.


There is a clear link between diabetes and the health of your teeth and gums. More specifically, people living with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing gum disease and vice versa. Fortunately, there are things Rutherford residents living with this condition can do to protect their smiles against the ravages of this disease and we shall be speaking to a dental implants professional in New Jersey about these measures in this two-part article series. First, however, let’s take a look at the oral health risks that come hand-in-hand with being a diabetic...

Diabetes and Oral Health Risks

Rutherford Dental Professional
If you are currently living with diabetes, you may find yourself at a greater risk of the following oral health issues:

Dry mouth: A condition characterized by the slowed production of saliva. This is problematic because your saliva plays an integral role in protecting your teeth and gums from bacteria.

Fungal infections: For example, thrush, which is terribly uncomfortable, both physically and in social situations.

Cavities: Soft holes in the dental enamel of your teeth caused by the acidic wastes produced oral bacteria. If left unfilled, these holes can become enlarged by further erosion, eventually forming a pathway into the “nerve” of the tooth at which stage infection can set in. “Untreated cavities can necessitate new teeth,” says a Rutherford dental professional.

Slowed healing: “People with diabetes sometimes tend to take a longer time to heal, which can lead to a problem after dental surgery,” explains a dental implants professional in New Jersey. “This can cause complications and a greater risk of post-operative infection. Dental implant patients with diabetes need to be watched a little more closely in the months following the placement of their new teeth.”

In spite of these oral health problems, there are steps that Rutherford residents living with diabetes can take to minimize the risk of permanent damage to their smiles.

The Link Between Diabetes and Gum Disease


Dental Implants“One of the greatest problems with diabetes is that it renders patients more vulnerable to gum disease and less able to fight off the kind of bacterial infections that lead to it,” explains a new teeth Professionals in Rutherford NJ. “These patients might initially experience gingivitis, which is the beginning stage of gum disease with symptoms that might include swollen, inflamed and spongy gums that easily tear and bleed when brushed or flossed. If allowed to progress, however, the infection can migrate deep down into the soft tissue surrounding the tooth roots, allowing deep pockets of bacteria and bacterial wastes to accumulate.” 

“This infection doesn’t only cause tooth decay, it also destroys the ligaments and bone tissue that support the teeth, eventually leading to tooth loss. Many of the patients we treat suffer from gum disease and a significant number of these patients are also diabetic,” says the dental implants professional in New Jersey.

So, how can gum disease be treated and what can Rutherford residents living with diabetes do to mitigate the impact of this terrible disease on the health of their teeth and gums?

Stay Tuned for Part 2 to Find Out!