{"id":840,"date":"2017-11-01T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-11-01T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/dental-care-blog\/diabetes-affects-oral-health-2\/"},"modified":"2017-11-01T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2017-11-01T00:00:00","slug":"diabetes-affects-oral-health-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/dental-care-blog\/diabetes-affects-oral-health-2\/","title":{"rendered":"How Diabetes Affects Oral Health"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n

\"\" THE AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION<\/strong> estimates that 23.1 million<\/a> Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes (whether it be type 1, type 2, or gestational). At least another 7 million remain undiagnosed, and that doesn\u2019t include the additional millions who are considered pre-diabetic. But what does diabetes have to do with oral health? Unfortunately, quite a lot. <\/p>\n

Diabetes And Gum Disease<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Diabetes is a chronic disease that either means the pancreas doesn\u2019t produce insulin (type 1) or that the body doesn\u2019t use it effectively (type 2 and gestational), both of which cause elevated blood glucose<\/strong>. The most serious impact elevated blood glucose has on oral health<\/a> is that it simultaneously weakens the immune system and provides more food for the bacteria that attack teeth and gums. This two-pronged attack is why 22% of diabetics<\/strong><\/a> also have gum disease, whether in the early stages of inflammation (gingivitis) or in the advanced stages (periodontitis) that threaten the teeth, gums, and supporting bone. The bacteria that causes gum disease can also travel through the bloodstream and make it even harder to regulate blood sugar.