Cypress TX Dentist Discusses the Critical Connection Between Diabetes and Oral Health

ROANOKE, Texas - Aug. 29, 2013 - PRLog -- The Texas Department of State Health Services reports that 1.8 million Texans over the age of 18 have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Another 1 million Texas adults have been diagnosed with prediabetes. With well over a million diabetics in our state alone, Dr. R. Terry Councill and Dr. Jonathan Glass, general dentists practicing in Cypress TX, firmly believe educating Texas residents about the clear connection between diabetes and poor dental health can raise awareness and help lead to a healthier Texas. Today, your Cypress dentists look at two of the most common oral health issues associated with diabetes. In addition, they provide some simple steps for people living with this serious disease to maintain a healthy smile.

High Blood Sugar Increases the Risk for Tooth Decay
The fact that there lies a clear link between elevated blood sugar and an elevated risk for tooth decay seems both surprising and completely obvious. After all, since we were children, our parents have warned us that “sugar will rot our teeth.” While we may think this advice is restricted to eating too much candy and soda pop, any sugar or starch particles in your mouth provide food for oral bacteria, especially S. mutans, the species of bacteria that causes tooth decay. When S. mutans digest sugar -- even sugar present in the blood stream -- they produce an acidic by-product that leaches the minerals from your tooth enamel in a process called demineralization. This is the first step in the long road to tooth decay and cavities.

Diabetes and Gum Disease: A Vicious Circle
Diabetes and gum disease have a mutually detrimental relationship. Although scientists have yet to determine the precise nature of the relationship, the American Academy of Periodontology reports that suffering from diabetes makes a person far more likely to develop gum disease. Conversely, gum disease can make controlling blood sugar levels more difficult, which can make the complications associated with diabetes even worse. Moreover, diabetes mellitus hinders the body’s ability to circulate blood and oxygen efficiently. In this no-win situation, a patient experiences an increased risk of gum disease even as they experience a simultaneous decrease in resistance to gum disease infection.

Oral Health Advice for Diabetics and Pre-diabetics
The American Diabetes Association reports that poor at-home oral hygiene is one of the biggest risk factors leading to the development of gum disease and tooth decay in diabetics and prediabetics. However, a few common sense steps can help dramatically reduce this risk. Take the American Dental Association’s advice regarding dental hygiene maintenance:

·      Brush at least twice per day, for at least two minutes per brushing session, and use fluoridated toothpaste.

·      Floss your teeth once every day, preferably before bedtime.

·      Rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash.

·      Visit your dentist every six months (or more frequently if recommended) to keep a close professional eye on your oral health.

Schedule an Appointment with Your Cypress TX Dentist
If you or a loved one is living with diabetes, we can help you enjoy better oral health throughout your lifetime. Contact Councill Dental Group (http://councilldental.com) by calling 281-376-9246 or click here to request an appointment online (http://councilldental.com/contact-us/). Our 77429 dental office welcomes patients from the Cypress-Greater Houston area.