Treatment of the gums in patients with diabetes

Diabetes mellitus leads to the development of various pathologies in the oral cavity, including periodontitis. In such cases, the treatment of periodontitis in diabetes mellitus is complicated by the presence of complications in the patient’s body and requires a more complex process of treating the gums, teeth and bone tissue affected by the disease.

Diagnosis of periodontitis in diabetes mellitus

The first signs of periodontitis are dry mouth, foul odor and blood when brushing your teeth. According to the results of research by the World Health Organization, the disease of diabetes mellitus is aggravated in almost 100% of cases by the occurrence of periodontitis or other diseases of the oral cavity.

After contacting the dentist and establishing the diagnosis, the doctor collects complete information about the general condition of the patient’s body, since in the case of diabetes mellitus, careful planning of treatment is necessary.

Treatment of periodontitis in diabetes

If periodontitis occurs in diabetes mellitus, treatment is difficult for a number of reasons:

• 1
  Increased pain threshold and tooth sensitivity.
• 2
  Decreased immunity.
• 3
  Fatigue of the patient.
• 4
  Longer period of healing and rehabilitation after the intervention.

The dentist takes these factors into account when planning and conducting treatment, which is carried out only at the stage of compensation of the disease. In cases of extensive lesions of the oral cavity with an infectious disease, treatment can be prescribed for uncompensated diabetes, but it should be carried out only with the patient taking insulin and using local anesthesia.

The installation of prostheses in diabetes mellitus is carried out using special materials that do not cause an allergic reaction. When the blood glucose level approaches the normal state, implantation is also possible, but only if caution is observed and if the doctor has experience in carrying out such operations.

Prevention of periodontitis in diabetes mellitus

An increase in blood sugar increases the risk of damage to teeth and gums.

To prevent possible complications with this disease, the following recommendations should be followed:

• Monitor your blood sugar and follow your doctor’s recommendation to keep your blood sugar within an acceptable range. The better the patient controls this indicator, the lower the risk of developing gingivitis and periodontal disease.
• Clean your teeth and mouth regularly, preferably after each meal. Brushing should be done with a medium-hard bristle brush, for extensive gum disease with soft bristles. It is recommended to additionally use dental floss. Brush your teeth gently to avoid damaging the soft tissues of the gums.
• Visit your dentist regularly and follow all his prescriptions.
• Lead a healthy lifestyle, quit smoking.

It is important to remember that periodontitis and diabetes mellitus are interconnected, and you should not stop treating periodontitis, as its development may lead to an even greater increase in blood sugar and aggravation of diabetes.