Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes can threaten our dental health. Tooth and gum diseases are frequently encountered in diabetics who cannot control glucose (sugar) well. Periodontitis, which can be among the undesirable effects of diabetes, which we call complications, can sometimes start before the person realizes his diabetes. In other words, just as diabetes can lead to periodontal diseases, diabetes itself may develop in the future in individuals under periodontal disease treatment. Today, blood sugar adjustment is monitored in our clinic with diabetes notebooks as fasting and postprandial sugar (glucose) 2 hours after eating, and the results are also reviewed with the A1c number, which reflects the three-month average sugar.
Periodontology, natural teeth, implants. It is a branch of dentistry that examines the health and disease conditions of the tissues around these structures and aims to diagnose and treat the diseases occurring in these tissues and to preserve the health achieved after treatment.
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal diseases; They are inflammatory diseases that affect the gums and other tissues that support the teeth. These diseases can be treated easily and successfully when diagnosed at an early stage. Prevention or treatment of gum diseases; It also brings other benefits such as protecting natural teeth, providing more comfortable chewing and better digestion. Periodontal diseases begin with inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). In gingivitis, only the gums are affected. During this period, the gums are bleeding, red and enlarged in volume. It may not cause much discomfort in the early period. When gingivitis is treated, the inflammation in the gums disappears and healing occurs. If left untreated, the disease can progress to periodontitis and cause irreversible damage to the alveolar bone that supports the gums and teeth.
Periodontitis is a more advanced stage of periodontal diseases. Damage occurs to the gums and other tissues that support the teeth. A "periodontal pocket" forms between the tooth and the gum. The presence of a periodontal pocket facilitates the localization of infection and progression of the disease. As the disease progresses, teeth begin to shake and may even need to be extracted.
Periodontal Disease� �k Risk Factors:
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Age
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Genetics
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Smoking
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Stress
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Diabetes
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Symptoms of gum disease:
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Bleeding during tooth brushing or spontaneous gums
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Red, swollen and sensitive gums
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Bad breath
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Receding gums
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Gums that can easily be separated from the teeth and receding
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Inflammatory discharge between the teeth and gums
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Teeth that are loose or gradually moving away from each other (gaps forming between the teeth or existing gaps increasing)
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Change in the relationship between the lower and upper teeth during biting
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Change in the fit of the existing prosthesis
What is the cause of gum disease?
The most important cause of gum disease is a sticky, yellowish-white layer called "dental plaque" that accumulates on the teeth. Removing dental plaque through daily brushing and flossing is a basic requirement for a healthy mouth. If plaque is not effectively removed from the teeth, it turns into an irregular and permeable structure known as calculus or tartar. Harmful products released by bacteria in plaque cause irritation in the gums. Due to these products, the fibers that firmly connect the gum to the tooth are destroyed, the gum moves away from the tooth and a periodontal pocket is formed. This makes it easier for bacteria and their products to move into deeper tissues. As the disease progresses, the pocket becomes deeper, the bacteria move deeper; It progresses to the bone and destruction begins in the alveolar bone that supports the tooth. If the disease is left untreated, the teeth will eventually become loose and may even need to be extracted.
Periodontal diseases are diseases that can be largely prevented and controlled. The success of the treatment depends on ensuring oral hygiene, accurate and early diagnosis, application of the appropriate treatment method and the active participation of the patient in the treatment.
A Oral, dental health and general health interact with each other and accordingly, the care of teeth and gums is very important in patients with diabetes. When tooth and gum infections cannot be prevented in patients with diabetes, it becomes more difficult to limit the infection. Conditions leading to ketoacidosis (a potentially fatal diabetes complication seen especially in type 1 diabetes) and sepsis may recur. Along with bad odor and pain such as acetone (similar to the smell of rotten apples) in the patient's mouth, chewing problems due to tooth loss and thus digestive system problems occur.
Periodontitis with diabetes. The relationships between them have been discussed in many studies with their clinical and immunological aspects. In studies conducted according to diabetes types; It has been observed that individuals with diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2) have higher rates of gum disease than those without diabetes. In addition, patients with uncontrolled diabetes have higher rates of gum disease than those with controlled diabetes. Another study stated that the rate of periodontitis increased in people with diabetes and that gum infections negatively affected blood glucose control. Dental-related infections, like other infections, can lead to hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (especially seen in Type 1 diabetes) by increasing fatty acid metabolism. Therefore, it is very important to protect and maintain tooth and gum health in diabetic patients. Studies conducted on diabetic patients with gum disease have shown that the need for insulin decreases as the infection heals.
Diabetes is one of the leading diseases that affects the onset, progression and severity of periodontitis. With diabetes, vascular changes occur in the gum tissues. As a result of changes in the oral microflora, decrease in collagen production and increase in collagenase activity, the destruction of gingival tissues increases. It is known that diabetes is an important risk factor in the occurrence of periodontitis. For this reason, to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy while you are diabetic;
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Keeping blood sugar under control,
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Brushing teeth after every meal
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Tooth once a day Using dental floss or an interdental brush,
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If you have dentures, taking care to clean them,
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Twice a year (every 6 months). ) going to the dentist for a check-up,
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Making sure to tell the dentist that you have diabetes,
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If you are a smoker, quitting (with professional help). must.
Periodontal diseases progress silently. Gum bleeding is the first sign of subgingival infection. In this case, patients with diabetes need to pay attention to dental care and go to the dentist and periodontal disease specialist regularly for better diabetes control. Dentists and diabetes specialists need to work together on the condition of the gums and glycemic control issues and make a comprehensive treatment plan for diabetics. It also affects our health. It has been shown that oral cavities, tooth loss and gum diseases are linked to many diseases such as diabetes and heart diseases. In other words, having healthy teeth and gums also contributes to our general body health. To maintain oral health, a dental check-up every six months and regular and correct oral care are very important.
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