If you’re living with diabetes, it’s important to pay close attention to your oral health and dental care.
Here are some potential diabetes dental problems and tips for a healthy mouth.
If you’re living with diabetes, it’s important to pay close attention to your oral health and dental care.
Here are some potential diabetes dental problems and tips for a healthy mouth.
People with diabetes face a higher risk of:
When the sugars and starches you eat and drink mix with bacteria in your mouth, plaque forms on your teeth. The acids in plaque attack the tooth enamel, which can lead to
Diabetes causes blood vessel changes, which can reduce the flow of nutrients and removal of wastes from your gums. This can increase your risk of infection and weaken the gums and bone. If plaque hardens under your gum line and turns into tartar, your gums will swell and bleed over time. This is the early stage of gingivitis, but if caught early on, your dentist can perform deep cleanings to help with your gum health.
If gingivitis is left untreated, it can turn into
Diabetes can cause dry mouth, also known as xerostomia. This is when the salivary glands in your mouth don’t make enough saliva, which can increase your risk of tooth decay, gum disease and thrush. Certain medications can cause dry mouth as well.
A type of yeast infection, thrush often occurs in people with diabetes or weak immune systems. It appears as white patches or a white coating on your tongue or in your mouth. Thrush can cause a loss of taste, mouth soreness or a burning sensation.
Since diabetes can make dental problems more severe, follow these tips to keep your teeth and gums healthy:
If you’re looking for dental insurance, Humana can help. We offer a broad range of dental plans with varying levels of coverage, many with affordable monthly premiums. Some of our plans also feature no waiting periods, which means you could get covered in about 5 days. To see plans and prices in your area, check out our Humana
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