Diabetes And Your Teeth

If you have diabetes, then you have a lot of areas of concern to think about regarding your health. Not only do you need to be careful when it comes to keeping your blood glucose levels stable, but you also need to be more diligent with regards to keeping your feet and legs well cared for, as well as other parts of your body. You will need to stay on top of your eye exams and you will need to stay on top of your dental care. When it comes to your teeth, this article can help you understand how diabetes can affect your oral health and ways you can help protect your teeth.

How diabetes can affect your oral health

Diabetes puts you at greater risk of all sorts of oral health problems with just a few of them being things like dry mouth, ulcers in the mouth, mouth soreness and teeth sensitivity, cavities, tooth decay, infections and gum disease.

Why regular dental visits are so important

When you have diabetes, a small dental problem can quickly become a bigger issue that will be harder for your dentist to treat. For this reason, you want to make regular visits to your dentist one of your top priorities. This way, the dentist will be able to spot potential problems right away and prevent anything further from developing.

How to make sure you are taking good enough care of your teeth

Since you are a diabetic, you shouldn't be eating foods with a lot of sugar in them anyway. However, should you decide to go ahead and do so every now and again, you want to make sure you brush your teeth about a half an hour after eating those types of foods. It's never a good idea to brush right after you eat because your teeth may be softer right after eating and this can lead to you damaging the enamel.

Use a soft bristled toothbrush and ask your dentist which type of toothpaste they suggest you be using. You also want to ask about fluoride supplements and if there is a specific type of mouthwash they would prefer you to be using. Don't scrub your teeth hard, just apply enough pressure to remove plaque and film that's on them. If you use an electric toothbrush, you may want to switch to a manual one that you have more control over.

Contact an office like Advanced Dentistry of St. Charles to learn more.