Know the Risks for a Diabetic Smile

There are all sorts of smiles out there, and every smile has it’s own risks associated. November is Diabetes Awareness Month, so let’s take a moment to look at risks and how a diabetic patient might prevent those problems from negatively affecting his smile. There are two major concerns for diabetic patients, and they aren’t anything different from other patients, but they do present a unique problem.

Prescription Medications

The first concern refers to an increased risk of decay due to taking prescription medications. Medications often cause dry mouth conditions, which in turn lead to decay. Saliva plays an important role in preventing decay because it rinses teeth and has bacteria-killing properties. When your mouth isn’t producing enough saliva, you will see an increase in decay. To prevent that, you may been to switch your medications or at very least take great strides to keep your mouth hydrated.

Decreased Infection Resistance

A second concern for diabetic patients is a lowered infection resistance. Gum disease infections are already rampant in this area, making this risk of gum disease even more concerning. In order to protect yourself from a gum disease infection, we recommend that you take your daily routine very seriously. That flossing, brushing, and rinsing is the only thing protecting you from a deep infection. You should also be seeing us at least every six months to allow us to catch any infection before it progresses into something more serious.

When you are living with diabetes, there are always things to worry about. This condition will affect your body from head to toe, and it’s important to not drop the ball in any area, especially not your oral health care. Contact us today to set up an appointment for a cleaning and exam. We would love to see you soon and help you develop great oral health habits!

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