Diabetics should have a plan to control blood sugar, oral hygiene, and regular dental check-ups to avoid complications.
Dr. Nguyen Thi Chau Ban, a specialist in Dentistry and Maxillofacial Surgery at Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, said that each person's oral cavity has about 300 harmful bacteria. Poorly controlled blood sugar can easily create opportunities for bacteria to grow and develop, increasing the risk of oral diseases such as gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth decay, gingivitis, glossitis, etc.
Saliva helps prevent tooth decay by washing away food particles between teeth, preventing bacteria from growing, and counteracting acids produced by bacteria. When you have diabetes, the composition of your saliva changes, affecting your ability to brush and prevent tooth decay.
According to Dr. Ban, some medications can cause the salivary glands to secrete less saliva, reducing the natural ability to protect teeth, increasing the risk of tooth decay, gum disease...
Diabetes also causes increased sugar levels in saliva when blood sugar is high, which helps bacteria grow faster and makes tooth decay easier.
Doctor Chau Ban guides diabetics on proper oral care as follows:
Blood sugar control: Patients need to have a healthy diet and exercise regularly to keep blood sugar levels within safe limits. The target HbA1c (a test that evaluates average blood sugar levels for three months) is below 7%.
Regular dental check-ups: At least once every 6 months or depending on each person's oral health condition, the doctor will advise on the appropriate treatment regimen. The doctor will check the problems the patient is having, the risks and fix the problems as soon as possible. Tooth extraction is not easy for diabetics because it carries the risk of serious infection afterwards. Therefore, patients need to pay attention if they have to have a tooth extracted.
Regular dental check-ups help detect and treat dental problems early. Photo: Freepik
Dental care at home : The general rule is that patients need to ensure that they brush their teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush and use fluoride toothpaste at least twice a day (morning and evening before going to bed).
Brush the outside of your teeth in a circular motion, starting on one side and moving to the other side of your mouth, brushing the inside surface of each tooth, gently brushing the top and bottom surfaces, starting on one side and continuing on the other, rinsing your mouth with water. Do not use toothpicks to try to remove food stuck between your teeth as this can easily damage your gums and cause bleeding. Floss once a day.
Check your teeth in front of the mirror : According to Dr. Chau Ban, if diabetics have problems with teeth and gums such as red, swollen, bleeding gums, gums peeling off the teeth, ulcers on the gums, loose teeth or changes in bite, tooth position, bad breath... they should go to a dentist for early examination and treatment.
Quit smoking : Smoking not only increases the risk of diabetes but also causes many dental problems. Smokers should try to quit smoking as soon as possible.
Dinh Tien
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