{"id":237,"date":"2019-11-06T17:51:00","date_gmt":"2019-11-06T17:51:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.northjacksonvillecompletedentistry.com\/blog\/?p=237"},"modified":"2019-12-03T17:53:21","modified_gmt":"2019-12-03T17:53:21","slug":"how-gum-disease-can-impact-your-oral-health-especially-if-youre-diabetic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northjacksonvillecompletedentistry.com\/blog\/how-gum-disease-can-impact-your-oral-health-especially-if-youre-diabetic\/","title":{"rendered":"How Gum Disease Can Impact Your Oral Health, Especially if You\u2019re Diabetic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and\nalthough this common disease negatively impacts a person\u2019s overall health, it\ncan also be problematic for one\u2019s teeth and gums. The mouth and body are\nclosely interconnected, which means, when a person has difficulty managing\ntheir blood sugar levels, their chances of developing periodontal disease\nincrease significantly. Read on to find out exactly how gum\ndisease<\/a> impacts an individual\u2019s oral health, especially a diabetic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What is Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Millions of adults living in the United States suffer from\nsome sort of gum disease. This infection attacks the gums and leads to\nswelling, redness, inflammation, and bleeding, all of which can escalate to gum\npocket formation. In the early stages of gum disease, which is also known as\nperiodontal disease, your periodontist can reverse the symptoms by performing a\nthorough cleaning and encouraging proper oral hygiene habits at home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, should gum disease escalate into a more advanced\nstage (periodontitis), infection and inflammation can enter the bloodstream,\ncausing health problems as well as possible bone and tooth loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Are Diabetics More Susceptible to Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Diabetes is a disease that involves managing glucose levels.\nIf a diabetic develops gum disease, it can make it much harder to manage their blood\nsugar, keeping them at a normal level. The reason is that individuals who have\na weakened immune system can experience difficulty in fighting off bacterial\ninfections like gum disease. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you avoid properly cleaning your teeth on a regular\nbasis and don\u2019t bother checking your blood sugar, there is a good chance your\ngums will be negatively impacted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Keep Gums Healthy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No matter if you\u2019re diabetic or not, there are ways to\nprevent gum disease from developing. Some of these include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n