Ask Your Houston Dentist about the Affects of Diabetes on Your Oral Health

If you suffer from Type I or Type II Diabetes, there are three thing you need to tell your Houston dentist every time you visit him or her.  First, you need to share any changes or recent developments in your medical case file. 

Secondly, you need to be honest about whether or not you have the disease under control.  Finally, you need to bring a list of all prescription and over-the-counter medications you have taken since your last dental visit. 

This is important, because diabetes can affect you oral health in many different ways.  It can cause both tooth decay and periodontal disease.  It can also cause salivary gland dysfunction and fungal infestations. 

Some diabetics suffer from inflammatory skin diseases like lichen planus and lichenoid reactions.  Diabetes can complicate any kind of infection, including those in the mouth, and delay the healing of those infections.  Diabetics routinely suffer from a loss of sensation in their taste buds. 

Periodontal disease is often linked to the control of diabetes, because diabetes weakens the immune system.  For instance, patients who have insufficient blood sugar control appear to develop severe periodontal disease more often.  They also lose more teeth than people who have good control of their blood sugar. It is conceivable for a diabetic to have periodontal disease and not have all of the warning signs. If you have noticed any of the warning signs of gum disease, see your Houston dentist at once.

To fight this, you absolutely MUST stay on top of your blood sugar levels.  A well-balanced diet is also mandatory in order to meet your nutritional needs.  You must practice good oral care at home, and you must see your Houston dentist on a regular basis.  In fact, if you are a Type I or Type II diabetic, you should see your Houston dentist more often because of all the challenges you potentially face. 

If you get dry mouth, there are a number of things you can do.  You can chew sugarless gum or sugarless mints.  You can also sip water or suck on ice, but DO NOT CHEW ON ICE.  Nothing good ever comes from smoking, so that is enough said about that.

Less frequent, but also very painful, conditions can also arise from diabetes.  Oral candidiasis-- a fungal infection in the mouth-- seems to be more prevalent among diabetics, including those who wear dentures. A Houston dentist can prescribe antifungal medications to treat this condition.  Consistent and proper oral hygiene is a must.

Another condition is a skin disorder called Lichen planus that produces lesions in the mouth.  When acutely severe, it can also produce painful ulcers that erode surface tissue. While no permanent cure exists yet, your Houston dentist may prescribe medication to reduce and relieve the condition.

If you need oral surgery, we strongly recommend the LANAP procedure because infection is a risk for those with diabetes. LANAP involves minimal cutting of tissue, uses no metal instruments, damages less healthy tissue, allows for faster healing, and because the laser sterilizes tissue as it goes, allows for faster healing.  It is the ideal surgical procedure for diabetics.

Cosmetic Dentistry is a specialized field that requires extensive knowledge and experience to be done correctly. The Medical Center Dental Group in Houston, Texas brings all of that and more to the direct benefit of each and every patient we treat. Although we are located in the world famous Houston Medical Center at Scurlock Towers, we routinely see dental patients who travel from Austin, San Antonio, Dallas, Beaumont Midland and Houston, Texas to see Dr. Dale Brant, Dr. Charles Campbell or Dr. Elizabeth OSullivan-Winslow for their cosmetic dentistry services.