The oral health of diabetics can be compromised for several reasons. These patients are more likely to develop gum disease – in fact, 90% suffer from periodontal disease – and dental problems. In this sense, poor oral health makes it difficult to control blood glucose. For all these reasons, it is important for diabetics to know how to take care of themselves in order to prevent all these complications and thus avoid major problems.

Dr. Oscar Castro, president of the General Council of Dentists, states that “Diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infections and slows down the healing process. If left uncontrolled, it can damage white blood cells, the body’s main defense against infections. Therefore, oral infections can become more serious in people with uncontrolled diabetes.”

Similarly, diabetes can also decrease salivary flow and increase glucose levels in saliva, making it an ideal setting for fungal infections such as candidiasis.

The Professional Association of Dentists recommends that patients with diabetes follow the following advice:

• Control the disease to reduce the risk of oral diseases.
• Visit the dentist at least twice a year and whenever there is any injury or alteration in the mouth.
• Take extra care of your oral hygiene by brushing your teeth after every meal with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Also use an interdental brush or dental floss for daily cleaning between your teeth.
• If you wear prostheses, you must take extreme hygiene measures with them on a daily basis.
• Avoid tobacco. Diabetic smokers aged 45 or older increase their risk of developing severe periodontal disease by 20 times.

“By strictly controlling the disease, these patients will prevent periodontitis from progressing rapidly and the development of other pathologies that, although less frequent, can also appear, such as oral candidiasis, dry mouth, enlargement of the salivary glands or alterations in the perception of taste,” says Dr. Castro.