What is the connection between diabetes and periodontitis (severe gum disease)? Well, it is a negative feedback cycle. Let’s look at this for a minute.
For people with diabetes, the connections go both ways. Bad bacteria in the mouth actually make it harder to control blood sugar. And hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) contributes to the growth of bad bacteria in the mouth. So, poor blood sugar control and poor oral hygiene form a negatively reinforcing cycle of bad health.
In an article that was written as a result of the European Workshop in Periodontal Diseases and Diabetes that was held in London, on 26 May 2010, it was stressed that inflammation from periodontal disease, and inflammation from diabetes negatively reinforced each disease process. The authors noted that diabetics had a three-fold higher risk of periodontitis compared to the general population. As noted above, about half of the general population has moderate periodontal disease. This means that virtually every diabetic person is at high risk of gum disease and severe periodontal disease.
And diabetics with severe periodontitis had about a 3-fold higher risk of dying from heart disease or kidney failure compared to diabetics without severe periodontitis. So, good oral hygiene is an essential part of conquering diabetes.
If you want to dig deeper on this subject, I wrote a complete article on this here.
So, what do you need to do?
First, you need to work on your diabetes and your dental health at the same time. You need to brush and floss every day. But you need more than that.
Second, you could use a tooth oil, like Ora-Shield, that is great for improving gum health. I sell it on Amazon and have gotten great feedback over the last year. The essential oils of peppermint, spearmint, oregano, and tea tree oil, carried in a MCT oil, help balance the microbial population in the gingival pocket. This means that you have another weapon to help you get ahead of the inflammation of diabetes.
