If you have diabetes, you probably know that uncontrolled blood sugar levels can negatively affect various organs in your body, including the heart, kidneys, nerves and eyes; however, did you know that inconsistent blood glucose levels can also lead to periodontal disease? Periodontal disease often leads to dental pain which can make chewing difficult. There is also the possibility of tooth loss.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease (gum disease) is an infection of the bone and gum. If you are diabetic, you are at greater risk of developing infections, including periodontal disease. Furthermore, if you have diabetes and develop gum disease, it can lead to a more serious case of periodontal disease, as well as take you longer to heal. Gum
Treatment
Good oral hygiene and regular dental check-ups.
Level 2 – Slight Periodontal Disease and Level 3 – Moderate Periodontal Disease
The infection is now destroying the bone that supports your teeth. Eliminating bacteria through good oral hygiene is not possible.
The gum tissue begins pulling away from the teeth. This creates pockets that allow bacteria to build up, which leads to an infection. As your body fights the harmful bacteria, the bone and tissue holding the teeth in place begin breaking down. The pockets deepen and begin filling with pus. Once you reach this stage, you may need to have surgery to save your teeth. If not treated, the infection begins destroying the bone around the teeth. If the bones, tissue and gums supporting your teeth are destroyed, the teeth may begin to shift, loosen and/or fall out.
Although the majority of people do not realize they have gingivitis, now that the disease has progressed, the symptoms are more evident.
Symptoms include:
Pain upon chewing. Red, inflamed or bleeding gums. Poor alignment of the teeth. Sores inside the mouth. Pockets between the gums and teeth, or receding
Bacteria can easily enter the bloodstream contributing to additional systemic health issues.
The Connection Between High Blood Sugar Levels and Periodontal Disease
Saliva contains glucose; therefore, if you have uncontrolled diabetes, the amount of glucose present in your saliva is elevated. We naturally have somewhere between 200 to 300 bacterial species in our mouths: Some of these bacteria are good and some of them are bad. Streptococcus mutans is typically the bacterium responsible for causing tooth decay; whereas, periodontal disease is usually caused by a mixture of Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola.
Elevated glucose levels assist the harmful bacterias, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Treponema denticola, by providing the substance necessary to produce the acid that combines with our saliva to form the soft, sticky film referred to as plaque. In addition, plaque is created when we eat foods containing starches or sugars.
The Dangers of
Periodontal disease is the inflammation of the structures that support the teeth. This disease is the primary loss of teeth in dogs. It is caused by a build-up of dental plaque on the surfaces of the teeth and around the gums. Bacteria can accumulate in the dental plaque and irritate the gum tissue which leads to the infection of the bone that surrounds the teeth. Some effects of the disease include: bad breath, bleeding gums, oral pain, dropping food from mouth while eating and loss of appetite. In severe cases the teeth may become loose and fall out.
According to the American Dental Association, gum disease, also referred to as periodontal disease, occurs when the tissues that support and surround your teeth become infected. Many people are unaware they even have gum disease, because it isn’t a painful disease. Periodontal disease is caused by a film of sticky bacteria called plaque forming on the teeth.
Periodontal disease is an infection of the gum tissue that can cause damage to the tissues and the bone supporting the teeth. Periodontal disease is caused by the combination of bacteria and plaque to form a biofilm, which adheres to the tooth surface, resulting in inflammation. Periodontal disease is broken down into two stages, gingivitis and periodontitis. According to research, about 70 to 90 percent of people have some form of the periodontal disease. Periodontal disease has been known to increase in severity with age [1] and has shown to be the leading cause of tooth loss in many adults.
causes tooth and gum disease, cancer, and even death begins to start. The negative side of this
This topic was brought to my attention by noticing the lack of dental hygiene among my peers. This doesn’t necessarily just mean having cavities, sore gums, or bad breath. No one likes communicating with another person with bad, stinky breath. Bad breath is also known as halitosis, which is caused by anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria is found in our mouth from drinking coffee, eating spicy foods,smoking tobacco, medications, gum diseases and many more.
Periodontal disease is an infection of the gingiva and alveolar bone. Periodontal disease increases in prevalence and severity as people age. Periodontal disease is precursored by gingivitis.
Periodontal Disease and Diabetes. It is of interest to note that diabetes is now more often characterized as a cardiovascular disease. It has been well documented that periodontal disease is considered as a possible risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The connection between diabetes and periodontal disease and how each can exacerbate the other is understandable.
Infection control is a central concept to every practice of health care providers. Its main objective is to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases from both patients and health personnel (Martin et al., 2010). In dental clinic, infection control is a continuous concern for its professionals. They have to contact patients routinely and be exposed to their blood, saliva, dental plaque and pus that may contain infectious pathogens. It is important for the dental professionals to treat these fluids as if they are infectious and special precautions must be taken to handle them. In this essay, I will highlight the scope of infection control practices in dental clinics and the ways through which infectious microorganisms are transmitted in the dental clinic. Also, I will talk about some infection control guidelines implemented in dental clinics and how they meet the needs of the patients. Finally, from a personal perspective, I will mention some factors that affect the implantation of infection control guidelines and procedures.
Gingivitis causes painful inflammation, swelling, irritation, and bleeding of the gums. The inflammation from gingivitis can be detrimental to people with type two diabetes, making it even harder to keep their blood sugar levels normal (Usborne par. 9). In fact, not flossing can also cause many other problems such as buildup of plaque and food lying between the teeth in the mouth, which starts to smell terrible. With leftover food stored away between the inside of someone’s teeth and the mouth, it will begin to smell just like a trashcan.
...in sources of energy. When cells cannot absorb sugar, you can become fatigued or feel exhausted” (Healhline), complain of blurred vision” In the short term, high glucose levels can cause a swelling of the lens in the eye. This leads to blurry vision. Getting your blood sugar under control can help correct vision problems. If blood sugar levels remain high for a long time, other eye problems can occur” (HealthLine), experience nocturia “Elevated glucose levels force fluids from your cells. This increases the amount of fluid delivered to the kidneys. This makes you need to urinate more. It may also eventually make you dehydrated” (Healthline), and have sores and cuts that will not heal “Elevated glucose levels may make it harder for your body to heal. Therefore, injuries like cuts and sores stay open longer. This makes them more susceptible to infection” (HealthLine).
The prevention of periodontitis is straightforward for patients. The first step in prevention is to assure that the patient is brushing twice a day utilising the proper brushing technique. Patients who fear the contraction of periodontitis are not encouraged to brush too much however, as excessive brushing with poor technique can lead to other oral problems such as the reduction of the gums (gingival recession). Brushing at least twice a day help inhibit the growth of unwanted bacteria and prevents plaque, and thus tartar from forming. Patients who wish to prevent periodontitis should also floss daily. Flossing daily includes the spaces between each tooth, as well as behind the last two molars on the mandibular and maxillary arches. Flossing should get in below the gum line to prevent bacteria from congregating just below the surface. The last at home, over-the-counter treatment available for the prevention of periodontitis is the use of an antiseptic mouthwash. While proper use of mouthwash in conjunction with the other techniques can help cure gingivitis, once periodontal disease has elapsed stage 1 of periodontal disease, no amount of mouthwash or brushing can restore attachment lost in the periodontium.
Periodontal disease also known as periodontitis is the inflammatory disease of the supporting tissues of the teeth caused by specific microorganisms resulting in progressive destruction of the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone with pocket formation, recession, or both. This includes gingivitis, which is the inflammation of the gingiva and is the milder form. This later on progresses to periodontitis and is a more severe form. Periodontitis affects the periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and cementum.
However, on the a recent visit dated 23/12/13 the patient’s gingival condition had deteriorated, presenting with an increased plaque scores of 34% and bleeding scores to 63%. Intra oral examination also showed generalised oedema and erythema throughout in the mouth in response to this increase in plaque bacteria. The presence of supra-gingival calculus on lower anterior teeth and both sites of upper buccal molars and the patients BPE now reads 212 /121, putting the patients caries risk at a ‘High’ status.
Dental plaque is the combination of bacteria embedded in a matrix of salivary proteins and bacterial products superimposed on the acquired pellicle (Berkovitz, et al., 2011). It is an example of a biofilm, a term used to describe relatively undefinable microbial community associated with a tooth surface or any other hard, non-shedding material (Reddy, 2008). Plaque can also be described as
The symptoms of gum disease are: bad breath, red or swollen gums, tender or bleeding gums, loose teeth, and painful chewing. Scientist have discovered that people with gum disease are more likely to develop heart disease or have diabetes. Other studies have shown that women with gum disease are more likely than those with healthy gums to deliver premature babies.