Diabetes & Gum Health
Type 2 Diabetes is a really serious condition and is the fifth most common cause of death in the world[1], but so many of us are now affected by this condition that it seems to be becoming the new normal. Unknown to most Diabetics however is the link between Diabetes and Gum Disease.
Gum Disease is the process where the structures that hold your teeth in place i.e. the gums, ligaments and bone are destroyed and if left untreated could ultimately end in tooth loss. This process begins with bacteria that are present in plaque gathering around teeth at the gum line. I feel like I talk about Gum Disease all the time, but I’m a Dental Hygienist and gums are my thing.
More and more of the patients that I see now seem to be Diabetic in some form when we look more closely at the figures we can see that 6% of the population (about 1 in 16 people) in the UK are living with either diagnosed or undiagnosed Diabetes which puts the number at a whopping 4 million, which is expected to rise to 5 million by 2025. [1]
About 90% of these 4 million people are suffering from Type 2 Diabetes, the most prevalent form of Diabetes by far. It mostly affects adults, but we are seeing a significant rise in the number of younger people now being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. [1]
In health blood sugar levels are controlled by insulin which is formed in the pancreas. Type 2 Diabetes will occur when the cells of the body don’t react properly to insulin or the body does not produce enough insulin to meet the demand of the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood stream. This means the glucose remains in the blood and isn’t stored to be used later for energy. These high blood sugar levels can seriously damage your heart, eyes, feet and kidneys.[5]
The majority of Type 2 Diabetes cases could be prevented, and we can all reduce our risk of developing our risk of Type 2 Diabetes but controlling our weight, stopping smoking, exercising regularly, reducing alcohol consumption and by eating a wide and varied balanced diet with limited processed foods. [2] Interestingly however taking better care of our gums can also reduce our risks of developing Type 2 Diabetes in the future.
But how are Gum Disease and Type 2 Diabetes related?
When Gum Disease is active, pockets are formed around the tooth. I usually get my patients to imagine each tooth is wearing a polo neck jumper – bear with me. As Gum Disease progresses these pockets get deeper, and the deeper these pockets are can act as a predictor as to whether we will develop Type 2 Diabetes in the future. We measure these pocket depths in millimetres which seems really small, but if you imagine a tooth, a millimetre goes a long way. An interesting study has suggested that there is a margin of 2mm, yes only 2mm, between whether a patient will develop Type 2 Diabetes or not develop Type 2 Diabetes based on their gum health. [3] Mind Blown.
One of the main contributing factors of these pockets getting deeper is poor oral hygiene, so by complying with the oral hygiene routine as outline by your Dental Hygienist or Dentist you are literally reducing your chances of developing Type 2 Diabetes. So an extra few minutes every day looking after your teeth and gums is totally worth it.
This relationship however, with Type 2 Diabetes and Gum Disease, seems to work both ways.
Patients with Type 2 Diabetes will have more generalised Gingivitis and more incidences of Periodontal Disease than non-diabetic patients. Also, higher levels of ultimate tooth loss from Gum Disease can also be seen in patients with Type 2 Diabetes.[4] So helping to prevent or control Type 2 Diabetes by eating real food, reducing refined sugar in our diets and moving more will help us hold onto our teeth for longer! Mexican Wave! (Just me? Ok.)
Gum Disease and Diabetes seem to be inextricably linked, and that my friends, is the Catch 22. The better we can look after our gums, the more in control of our blood sugars we seem to be however the more we look after our blood sugars and reduce our risk of developing Diabetes the healthier our gums seem to be. If you have any questions about Diabetes or Gum Disease definitely touch base with your Dental Hygienist, Dentist or your GP.
If you would like a Dental Hygiene appointment, you can visit me at Moira Cosmetic Dental or Bupa Dental Care Glengormley or follow me on Instagram @homegirlhygienist
1. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-prevalence.html
2. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ten-tips/10-tips-to-help-prevent-type-2-diabetes
3. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jcpe.13005
4. http://www.seer.ufu.br/index.php/biosciencejournal/article/view/41485
5. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/diabetes/type-2-diabetes
#diabetes #type2diabetes #diabetesuk #toothloss #gumdisease #gingivitis #gumhealth #heath #dentalhygiene #dentalhygienist #bloodsugar
