Did you know that November is National Diabetes Awareness Month? With that in mind, we would like to talk about the ways gum disease impacts the oral health of patients with diabetes. How are these health issues linked? What should our Brighton, MA, patients know about this connection?
The Symptoms of Periodontal Disease
Gum disease occurs when gum inflammation, also known as gingivitis, remains untreated. Causes of inflammation range from smoking and poor oral hygiene, to chronic illness and a family history of periodontal problems. Once the disease forms, patients may notice receding gums, redness or bleeding when brushing and flossing, swelling along the gumline, and may experience soreness in the gums. If one or more of these symptoms sound familiar, then you should contact our office. We can perform a diagnosis to assess the health of your gums and if necessary, recommend treatment.
The Link with Diabetes
If you have diabetes, the high glucose blood levels make fighting bacterial infections difficult, increasing the likelihood of developing periodontal disease. If you already have gum disease, the infection could lead to higher blood sugar levels, making the treatment of your diabetes more difficult.
Treating Your Periodontal Issues
If you have gingivitis or the early stages of periodontal disease, we may suggest scaling and root planing, also known as a deep cleaning, to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth and roots. We might then follow the treatment up with antibiotic therapy. For more severe cases, we may suggest gum surgery to carefully remove infected tissue and allow healthy gums to flourish. If you have any questions about gum disease, or if you worry about the disease’s impact on your diabetes, then contact our team today.
Do You Have Questions About Treating Periodontal Issues?
At Brighton Family Dental Group, we want to make sure our patients enjoy healthy smiles free of gum disease. You can schedule an appointment or consultation with Dr. Villani or Dr. Kondrat by reaching out to our office at (617) 562-5210. We are proud to offer a range of dental services to patients from Brighton, Watertown, Cambridge, Brookline, Newton, and all neighboring communities.
