Periodontal Disease and Diabetes

If you have diabetes, you have an increased risk of developing periodontal disease.

Diabetes contributes to periodontal disease in several ways. 

 It can...

• lower your bodies ability to fight infection
• slow healing
• cause dry mouth
• often result in high blood sugar levels

Your blood vessels bring oxygen and nutrients to your tissue, including your mouth. Diabetes causes the blood vessels to thicken and become less elastic, making you less resistant to infections, like periodontal disease.

Diabetics often experience a decrease in the flow of saliva.  This can lead to a condition called dry mouth, or xerostomia.

A lack of saliva allows plaque, the sticky film of food and bacteria, to build up easily on teeth, as well as, below the gum tissue migrating apically.  This accumulation of plaque is the main cause of periodontal disease, which can result in bone loss.

Having poorly controlled diabetes also means that there is often excess levels of glucose in the blood and saliva.