GUM DISEASE AND DIABETES

HOW DOES HAVING DIABETES INCREASE YOUR RISK OF GUM PROBLEMS

Poor oral health and untreated mouth problems can lead to serious health issues like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. These conditions and gum disease can make each other worse².

Living with diabetes, along with certain medications used for its treatment, can reduce saliva production. Saliva plays a protective role for teeth and gums, so a decrease in saliva can lead to a higher risk of tooth decay and other oral issues, such as tooth wear².

Diabetes can also increase the sugar or glucose content in your saliva, which can feed harmful bacteria in the mouth that combine with food to form plaque². Plaque is a sticky substance that forms on your teeth, which can feed harmful bacteria in your mouth. When you eat or drink, especially things with sugar, the bacteria use that sugar to grow and create plaque that helps them stick to your teeth. Plaque can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease².

WHAT CAUSES GUM DISEASE (GINGIVITIS)

One of the main causes of gum disease are the plaque bacteria that build up on the tooth surface and in between your teeth³. If they are not removed by regular brushing and flossing they can irritate your gums, causing them to change colour and become swollen, and they may bleed when you brush or floss your teeth³. This stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. If these early signs of gum disease are not treated, then it can eventually progress to the more serious form of gum disease, periodontitis, which is irreversible and can lead to tooth loss³.

WHAT TO DO TO AVOID GUM PROBLEMS

Regardless of what you think might be the cause of your bleeding gums, the best thing to do is speak to your dentist as soon as possible. They can investigate and advise on the best way to manage your gum problems.

There are also a number of simple steps you may wish to consider when it comes to managing bleeding gums – changes to your oral health routine that could help stop the problem becoming more serious. To work effectively, these steps should be followed every day, rather than just on occasions that you notice blood when you spit:

1. Use a soft toothbrush to brush your teeth twice daily for at least two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste.
2. Use a manual or electric toothbrush with a small head and soft round bristles, paying particular attention to ensure you clean all the surfaces of your teeth and along the gum line.
3. Floss or use interdental brushes to remove plaque from hard-to-reach areas, like in between your teeth.