Diabetes and Oral Health: An Overview by Family Dentist in Brampton

1. Diabetes and Oral Health: An Overview by Family Dentistin Brampton Your mouth doesn't tell the truth. People who have gum disease have swollen, bleeding, or receding gums; loose or missing teeth; and bad breath that doesn't go away evenwhen they brush theirteeth. If you have diabetes, you're more likely to get gingivitis (a form of gum disease that starts in the earlystages) and what's calledperiodontitis (aformof advanced gum disease). When you have food in your mouth, plaque forms on your teeth. This is a soft, sticky substance thatgets stuck to your teeth as you eat and ismostly made of bacteria.Plaques aremade up of more than 500 different kinds of bacteria.Some of them are good for your mouth, and some aren't. Bacteria arethe samein people who havediabetesandin peoplewho don'thave diabetes,so there is no difference. Thedifference isin how the body reacts to thebacteriaand how strong it is. If you have diabetes,especially if you aren'tmeeting your goals, you will have a more inflammatory response, whichcould causeyour teethto fallout. Thereis achance thatthetooth willfall out. Alot of people withdiabetes have oral problems that are more likely to happen, such as dry mouth. Itcouldbebecauseyou're gettingolderortakingmedicine, butitcouldalsobe because

2. you have diabetes.Dry mouth, nomatterwhat the reason, meansfood debris,sugar, acid, and bacteria can't be washed away as quickly. But there's good news, too: this doesn't happen right away! As well, there are many things you cando tokeep gum disease atbay. If you keepyour diabetes in check and your oral health in check by going to the family dentist in Brampton or periodontist on a regular basis, you will loweryour risk. Then,whatcanyoudo? Hereare3thingsyouneedto doto keepyoursmile healthy: Brushtwotimesaday The family dentist in Bramptonsays that you should brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day, with toothpaste that has fluoride in it. At a 45-degree angle to your gums, gently move your toothbrush back and forth along the outside, inside, and chewing surfaces of your teeth. This will helpyou keep your teeth clean. Then, makesure to clean every surface. What kind of brush you use doesn't matter. The size and shape of your brush should make it easy to reach every part of your body.Make sure you use soft bristles,as well, to clean your teeth. There is a lot of evidencethat hard bristlescan wear awaythesurface ofyour teeth. Everyday,floss

3. Plaqueand food particlescan build up between your teeth and along the gum lineif you don't brush your teeth. This puts you at risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Wind an 18-inch piece of flossaround your middle fingers,leavingabout an inch or twoto work with. Whenyou holdthe floss inbetween your thumbsand index fingers,curve it around each tooth in aC shape. Then, gently slide it up and down the toothand underthe gum line to removeany plaque and food. People who don't like flossing might not like this video. Try an interdental tool. Toget to places a normal toothbrush can't, the tiny brush has a small handle. Checkwithyourfamily dentistinBrampton twiceayear People withhealthy gums mayneedto have their teethcleanedevery three months. Besidesan antibacterial mouthrinseorantibiotics,yourdentist mayalsorecommendthesethings.Make

4. sure to tell your dentist about any changes in your healthor medications, because both can have an effect on your oral health, like dry mouth. Goandfindoutbeforeyougo. Hereare4 waystomakethemostofyournextdentalvisit: Find adental inBramptonwhoisawareofthe needsofpeople withdiabetesandcan help you. You should be honest with your dentist. You need to let your dentist know if you've been meeting your diabetesgoals because that will affecthowyou'll respond todental work. Thedaybefore yourappointment,be sure toeatnormallyand takeyourusual medicines on time. Take charge and doyour best. Howdo my gumslookwhen I getthem cleaned?There was a lot ofblood. Is thereanything else Ishould do? As part of yourdiabetes care team, you're the mostimportant person. Thisisalso true when itcomes to making sure your teeth and gums stay healthy. Isthattrue? Wasn't itinterestingtolearn thatyour familydentist inBrampton cansend youto thedoctor to get checked for diabetes? This is what you need to know:A study in BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care found that nearly one in five people with severe gum disease had type 2 diabetes and didn't know it.