Dr Sumpath Sunder is a Specialist Periodontist at Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Center
Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases in which there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period of time. In diabetes the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood and urine.
Since the cells can’t take in the glucose, it builds up in your blood. High levels of blood glucose can damage the tiny blood vessels in your kidneys, heart, eyes, or nervous system. That’s why diabetes — especially if left untreated — can eventually cause heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and nerve damage to nerves in the feet.
Gum diseases comprises of gingivitis and periodontitis. Gingivitis is the inflammation of gums which is primarily caused by plaque and calculus. When untreated this inflammation of the gums than leads to destruction of the supporting structure of the tooth (periodontitis) which includes the supporting bone thus making tooth weak.
Diabetes is considered a risk factor in the progression of periodontal disease. Presence of diabetes produces destruction of the supporting structures of the tooth at a much faster rate when compared to an individual having periodontitis without diabetes. This kind of increased destruction of the periodontium is attributed to increased blood glucose level (hyperglycaemia).
The risk of periodontal diseases increases by almost 3 folds. Periodontitis being an infection also known to influence the glycaemia control and hence can have a negative impact. Studies have shown that by just cleaning the teeth, it helps reducing blood glucose levels.
Visit your dentist more often if you are a diabetic to maintain your oral hygiene.
Maintaining your oral hygiene will help you maintain your blood sugar levels. Being a diabetic doesn’t make your teeth weak, it’s a plaque and calculus which makes your teeth weak. Extraction of tooth is allowed and wound healing is as good as a nondiabetic, if you are a controlled diabetic. In the end, it’s not the dentistry which is expensive it’s the ignorance. Visit your dentist to know more about diabetes and gum diseases.
Dr Sumpath Sunder is a Specialist Periodontist at
Naseem Al Rabeeh Medical Center, C Ring Road, Doha.
