Diabetes: The Periodontal Saga

Diabetes is a disease which is as complex in its origins as it is in the complications it brings about. From your heart, to your kidneys, your eyes and even your nervous system there's barely a part of your body diabetes leaves untouched if mismanaged. To add to this already bludgeoning string of ailments is periodontal disease. As the name suggests, periodontal literally translates into 'around your teeth' and is a chronic bacterial infection that plagues your gums and the bone which supports your teeth. How ever, this ailment is as two-toned as diabetes, not just resulting as an outcome of the disease, but also interfering in the process of diabetes management on the whole. Thus, even as the hapless diabetic grapples with periodontal disease, this infection is further wrecking his management program, making it even harder for him to keep his condition in control.

Periodontal disease first sets in with gum inflammation, which is caused by the bacteria which develop in the plaque on your teeth. This inflammation can then spread from one tooth to another, if not checked in time especially in cases where the victim suffers from diabetes as well. This is partially because of the high glucose levels in the blood stream, which provide ample nourishment for the bacteria to thrive. Diabetes also thickens the blood-carrying veins in your body, thus impairing the circulation of blood, which starves your teeth of oxygen and nourishment, thereby weakening their ability to fight disease.

Periodontal disease develops in stages, growing more destructive as it is allowed to proceed unchecked. The first manifestation is in the form of Gingivitis, when your gums become red and swollen on account of the bacterial infection. You may also find instances when your gums bleed when you brush or floss, which is yet another result of the infection. This stage can be easily overcome by thoroughly brushing and flossing your teeth, and follow-up cleaning by your dentist. Failure to do so, will lead the disease to progress to its next stage, namely periodontitis.

At the second phase, the plaque on your teeth grows harder and denser and accumulates under your gums, pulling them away from your teeth. This creates gaps, or pockets of infection that may even destroy the bone anchoring your teeth, leading to tooth loss. The progression from Gingivitis to periodontitis is barely imperceptible and waiting for pain and loose teeth will mean that you have already let this disease advance to its more mature phase. And so, if you do find that your inflammation and bleeding do not subside after meticulous cleaning, it is advisable you visit a periodontist for specialized treatment.

Treating periodontitis involves loosening the plaque and infected tissue off your teeth and gums, so that your healthy gum tissue can re-attach itself to your teeth. This treatment is only successful if you follow it up with regular brushing or flossing, else your periodontist will need to surgically operate your gums and thus try to rid your teeth of the infection. This process, though painful and tedious plays a very critical role in saving your teeth, without which, the only recourse available to you is to extract the tooth to prevent the infection from spreading to other, unaffected teeth.

If you have already been diagnosed with diabetes when your periodontal condition is detected, make sure that your dentist is aware about your condition and the treatment that has been prescribed to you. Treatment, if any, may require your insulin and meal patterns to be tweaked so that your periodontal treatment does not hamper your diabetes management. If possible, get your physician to have a word with your dentist before you begin treatment to avoid any unintentional repercussions. If your diabetes management is not quite up to the mark, your dentist may even deem it necessary that you postpone your periodontal treatment until your glucose levels are better controlled.

The poor blood circulation which diabetes brings about makes healing and recovery more lengthy and excruciating than otherwise. Again, periodontal disease is another one of those ailments which is easy to reverse if diagnosis and correctional measures are taken in time. At this point, even though diabetes may seem like an overwhelming impediment, it does help to remember that keeping your diabetes management intact can go a long way in ensuring that these diseases are kept at bay for a large majority of your life. Even if you have been allowing your diabetes to get the better of you, it's time to sit up and take control right now with just a little awareness and a few lifestyle changes, you could be bidding periodontal disease a permanent goodbye!

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Julia Hanf author of the book How To Play the Diabetes Diet Game and Win Through a real life crisis Julia figured out how to live diabetes free. Visit www.yourdiabetescure.com and learn more about your solution for diabetes.

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