21 Nov Diabetes and gum disease
DIABETES AND GUM DISEASE: ARE THEY LINKED?
Diabetes mellitus is a hormonal disorder characterized by alterations in metabolism, caused by an increase in blood glucose level due to the lack of partial or complete insulin secretion. In this post we will review the relationship between diabetes and gum disease.
With a normal insulin level, glucose would pass into the bloodstream into the cells, lowering the blood glucose level. In case of not having enough insulin, glucose would fail the cells and the phenomenon of hyperglycemia would occur in the blood, that is, the existence of high levels of sugar or glucose in the blood.
The symptoms of diabetes are expressed with facts such as retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, thromboembolism, atherosclerosis, poor tolerance to infections and periodontal disease, among other cases.
As types of Diabetes Mellitus there are the following two:
– Type I diabetes, which is an autoimmune disease and is detected during childhood. Insulin is needed to maintain blood glucose levels.
– Type II diabetes, understood as the resistance created by patients with respect to insulin. This type is usually expressed in adulthood and has a high degree of relationship with obesity problems.
DIABETES AND PERIODONTAL (gum) DISEASE:
As discussed below, diabetes and periodontal disease are interrelated.
Firstly, diabetes varies the acute inflammatory response against the microorganisms existing in the gingiva and, therefore, alters the subsequent repair capacity, a fact that accelerates the destruction of the periodontal support tissues.
Patients suffering from diabetes are up to four times more likely to develop periodontitis. Furthermore, if diabetes is not adequately controlled, it increases and aggravates periodontal disease.
On the other hand, periodontitis is the result of infection and inflammation caused by the accumulation of oral bacteria and, this fact, can affect the inflammatory response by spreading throughout the body. Likewise, periodontitis (inflammation) is closely related to insulin resistance, thus increasing the risk of diabetes. The more severe the periodontitis, the more likely it is to develop diabetes.
In conclusion, it is important to take care of the gums by using products that help prevent periodontal disease. As always, it is appropriate for the dentist to advise on this point to avoid complications and prevent disease.
Gum specialists in Barcelona
At BLASI Clínica Dental we are specialists in periodontics in Barcelona. Our periodontist, Dr. Gonzalo Blasi, has studied at one of the best dental universities in the United States and also obtained a diploma from the American Board of Periodontology. If you suffer from gum problems and/or diabetes, we recommend that you visit us at our dental clinic in Sarria Galvany.