Mouth Infections are Risky for People with Diabetes
Think your smile is just for grins? As a person with diabetes, your oral health can have a big impact on your diabetes and overall health. Mouth infections make it harder to process insulin and keep your diabetes under control. As a person with diabetes, you are three to four times more likely to have mouth problems, so it’s especially important that dental care is a part of your regular health routine. A healthy mouth is important to help keep your diabetes under control, so see your dentist twice a year.
Follow these simple tips:
- Brush and floss after meals to remove germs that could cause infection
- See a dentist twice a year to clean teeth and gums and look for problems; make sure you tell your dentist you have diabetes and are concerned about gum disease and infections
- Check for gum or mouth infections and see a dentist immediately if you notice signs
Be on the lookout for signs of mouth infections and call a dentist immediately if you notice any of these signs:
- Swelling or pus of any size around teeth, gums or anywhere in mouth
- Pain when chewing
- Teeth that hurt when eating something cold, hot or sweet
- Dark spots or holes in teeth
- Mouth or sinus pain that won’t go away
- White or red patches on gums, tongue, cheeks or roof of the mouth
Learn more about diabetes and oral health, visit the American Diabetes Association.
Click here if you need to find an oral health provider.