Periodontal Disease and Diabetes - Is there a Link?

If you are diabetic, you're at a greater risk of suffering from oral infections and diseases, including periodontal disease.

THE CONNECTION TO DIABETES:

Diabetes contributes to periodontal disease in three ways: it lowers your body's ability to fight off infection, results in high blood sugar levels, and causes dry mouth.

Diabetes lowers the body's resistance to infection by causing blood vessels to thicken and become less elastic. This decreases the flow of white blood cells, oxygen, and nutrients to the body's tissues, and slows the removal of harmful wastes. This can weaken your mouth's resistance to infections like periodontal disease.

Having poorly controlled diabetes means that there are often excess levels of glucose in the blood and saliva. The harmful bacteria in your mouth that are responsible for periodontal disease thrive on this sugar.

Diabetics who don't successfully control their blood sugar levels also frequently experience a decrease in the flow of saliva, which can lead to a condition of dry mouth or XEROSTOMIA. Saliva is vital for helping wash away the bacteria that cause periodontal disease. A lack of saliva allows plaque to build up easily on teeth.

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