Diabetes: Tooth And Gum Problems For Teens And Kids With Diabetes
Children, teens, and adults have more tooth and gum disease if they also have diabetes. With children, tooth and gum disease becomes obvious around puberty and grows worse as they age. Previous research already proved that children and teens with diabetes had more problems with their dental health. Scientists wanted to know more about this statistic and studied nearly 350 children and teens. They were evenly divided between children with diabetes and with those who didn’t.
All the children were given the same health and dental exams and questioned about their dental health. Those with diabetes were asked about their type and other diabetes related questions including whether they took insulin to control their disease. The children were chosen from a mostly Hispanic neighborhood that didn’t have ready access to health and dental care. The following results may vary among a different population.
They discovered the children with diabetes had higher plaque and gingivitis levels than children without diabetes. They also discovered other serious dental problems with children with the disease. They also found, there was no difference in cavities between the two groups. The study revealed that being overweight or obese was linked with dental problems such as tooth and gum disease, especially among the teenagers.
This study shows that diabetes causes tooth decay and gum disease to start earlier than had been believed. It’s important for children, teens, and adults with diabetes to practice good dental health.
How does diabetes hurt teeth and gums? The build up of plaque coats the teeth and bacteria grows faster due to high blood sugar levels. The gums can get red, sore, and you may have bleeding when you brush your teeth. These are the first signs of gum disease and can lead to an infection of the gum called periodontitis. If you have diabetes, you should have your teeth and gums checked regularly by a dentist and call immediately if you have any of the following symptoms.
* A bite that feels different
* Teeth look longer than usual
* Bad breath
* Sensitive teeth
* Loose teeth
* Red, sore, swollen, and bleeding gums
* Dentures that aren’t fitting well
You can help your teeth and gums stay healthy by closely controlling your blood glucose levels. Brushing your teeth regularly and flossing at least once a day will help prevent plaque buildup on your teeth. Using a gentle motion with a soft brush, use a circular motion to brush each tooth.
Smokers are more at risk of tooth and gum disease, and having diabetes adds to that risk. Advise your dentist if you smoke and talk to your doctor about ways to quit smoking. If you experience any of symptoms, contact your dentist immediately. If you have a problem, take care of it as soon as possible. Your dentist should be told if you have soreness from dentures as well. You can still get gum disease even if you have had your teeth pulled and replaced with dentures.
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