If you are one of the nearly 30 million Americans with diabetes, your health care provider most likely has warned you that uncontrolled blood-sugar levels can put you at risk for serious complications, such as heart and kidney disease or stroke. But there are dental problems associated with diabetes, as well? In fact, a recent study published by American Dental Association reported that one in five cases of tooth loss is related to diabetes.
Diabetes-Oral Health Link
When you have diabetes your body isn’t able to properly process sugars. This is either the result of not producing enough insulin, which causes Type l diabetes, or as with Type ll diabetes, your body doesn’t respond to insulin. But if tooth decay and gum disease are caused by bacteria, …show more content…
This way, if gum disease is detected, it can be treated with either nonsurgical treatment, like scaling and root planing or more advanced surgeries if needed. After periodontal treatments, dentist’s feel it’s important to schedule more frequent checkup and cleaning appointments. This can be a problem, since most insurance plans only provide benefits for a routine cleaning every 6 months, and some plans don’t provide much in the way of coverage for periodontal treatments. However, because oral health is a key component of overall wellness, United Concordia Dental offers a plan (Smile for Health®— Wellness) that covers periodontal treatment and maintenance for people with certain chronic health conditions, like diabetes.
Even with a diagnosis of diabetes, your oral health is manageable, and dental problems associated with diabetes aren’t necessarily in your future. By knowing the risks, following good oral hygiene routines and working with both your doctor and dentist, you can keep your mouth healthy and this disease under
Diabetes-Oral Health Link
When you have diabetes your body isn’t able to properly process sugars. This is either the result of not producing enough insulin, which causes Type l diabetes, or as with Type ll diabetes, your body doesn’t respond to insulin. But if tooth decay and gum disease are caused by bacteria, …show more content…
This way, if gum disease is detected, it can be treated with either nonsurgical treatment, like scaling and root planing or more advanced surgeries if needed. After periodontal treatments, dentist’s feel it’s important to schedule more frequent checkup and cleaning appointments. This can be a problem, since most insurance plans only provide benefits for a routine cleaning every 6 months, and some plans don’t provide much in the way of coverage for periodontal treatments. However, because oral health is a key component of overall wellness, United Concordia Dental offers a plan (Smile for Health®— Wellness) that covers periodontal treatment and maintenance for people with certain chronic health conditions, like diabetes.
Even with a diagnosis of diabetes, your oral health is manageable, and dental problems associated with diabetes aren’t necessarily in your future. By knowing the risks, following good oral hygiene routines and working with both your doctor and dentist, you can keep your mouth healthy and this disease under