Diabetes and teeth

Although there is a strong body of evidence that supports the relationship

between oral health and T2DM, oral health awareness is lacking among
patients with diabetes and other health professionals. There is a need for
the treating physician to be educated about the various oral manifestations
of diabetes so that they can be diagnosed early and timely referrals to oral
health specialists can be made. Diabetes is a common disorder with
concomitant oral manifestation that impacts dental care and there is
concern about the ability of oral manifestations to profoundly affect
metabolic control of the diabetes state. Oral complications of diabetes can
be devastating for the patient. These may include, but are not limited to
candidiasis, dental caries, tooth loss, gingivitis, lichen planus, neurosensory
disorders (burning mouth syndrome), periodontitis, salivary dysfunction and
xerostomia, and taste impairment. Chronic periodontal disease results in
progressive destruction of the supporting tissues of the teeth as well as
pocket formation, recession or both, which may lead to tooth loss because
of extensive destruction of alveolar bone. It is well documented that
periodontal disease is considered to be one of the main reasons for tooth
loss among individuals with diabetes. Several mechanisms have been
proposed to explain the increased susceptibility to periodontal diseases
among patients with uncontrolled DM, including alterations in host
response, collagen metabolism and vascularity. Individuals with poorly
controlled T2DM present an exaggerated inflammatory response to the
bacterial challenge of periodontitis. A hyperinflammatory response coupled
with impaired wound healing and repair may enhance the inflammatory
reaction and periodontal tissue destruction for these patients. There is also
evidence suggesting that periodontitis-induced bacteremia will cause
elevations in serum proinflammatory cytokines, and reactive oxygen species
leading to etiopathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and increased insulin
resistance. The chronic inflammatory state induced by untreated
periodontitis may contribute to insulin resistance, worsening glycemic
control.

People with diabetes face a higher risk of:

 Dry mouth: Uncontrolled diabetes can decrease saliva flow,

resulting in dry mouth. Dry mouth can further lead to soreness,
ulcers, infections, and tooth decay.
 Gum inflammation (gingivitis) and periodontitis: Besides
weakening white blood cells, another complication of diabetes is
that it causes blood vessels to thicken. This slows the flow of
nutrients to and waste products from body tissues, including the
mouth. When this combination of events, the body loses its
ability to fight infections. Since periodontal disease is a bacterial
infection, people with uncontrolled diabetes might experience
more frequent and more severe gum disease.
 Poor healing of oral tissues: People with uncontrolled diabetes
do not heal quickly after oral surgery or other dental procedures
because blood flow to the treatment site can be damaged.
 Thrush: People with diabetes who frequently take antibiotics to
fight various infections are especially prone to developing a
fungal infection of the mouth and tongue. The fungus thrives on
the high glucose levels in the saliva of people with uncontrolled
diabetes. Wearing dentures (especially when they are worn
constantly) can also lead to fungal infections.
 Burning mouth and/or tongue: This condition is caused by the
presence of thrush.