Diabetes affects many different parts of the body, and some Sacramento residents aren’t yet aware of the increased potential for tooth and gum disease that comes with insulin-resistant diabetes. Some people don’t realize the connection until they find themselves in need of an Emergency Dentist. While most people are aware of the dangers of plaque and its tendency to build up on teeth, not everyone knows that elevated levels of blood glucose can cause plaque to build up much faster. Some people don’t learn the risks of diabetes to their teeth until they have a sudden and severe problem.

According to the American Dental Association, diabetes patients are more prone to gum disease, tooth decay, fungal infections, inflammatory skin diseases, delayed healing, salivary gland dysfunction, and taste impairment. Whether you see a regular Sacramento dentist or an Emergency Dentist, you need to make sure the person caring for your mouth knows about your diabetes. The bacteria that inhabit the plaque on your teeth thrive on sugar, which they convert into an enamel-destroying acid. In healthy people with well-controlled blood sugars, the bacteria only get fed when sweetened food and beverages are consumed. However, a person with chronically high blood sugar has elevated levels of sugar in their saliva, thus feeding the bacteria all the time.

Well-fed bacterial plaque can cause a multitude of problems. Constant feeding of the bacteria can cause rapid tooth decay as the plaque continually eats away at the enamel. Rapid plaque growth can harden into tarter, making proper oral hygiene extremely difficult. Some diabetes patients struggle with continual gum infection and inflammation, others don’t realize they have a problem until they suddenly need an Emergency Dentist for an extremely painful condition. Control of blood sugar is essential for a healthy mouth if you have diabetes, whether you live in Sacramento or New York City.

Increased plaque buildup is not the only mouth problem that can be improved through control of blood sugar. Periodontal, or gum disease, is also much easier to fight when your diabetes is well-managed. Patients with diabetes are more prone to infection that healthy people, and tend to heal slower from disease and other problems. While diabetes does not actually cause gum disease, it certainly makes it worse. The good news is that people who control their blood sugar tend to have fewer infections, heal faster, and lose less teeth than people who do not properly manage their diabetes.

The National Institute of Health recommends that you tell your Emergency Dentist or regular provider right away if you have diabetes. Many dentists in Sacramento will prescribe antibiotics for diabetes patients who need oral surgery. Talk to your provider at the beginning of your visit, or when you make the appointment, so you can plan how to control your blood sugar while you are at the dentist.