Diabetes & Your Gum Health:  3 Ways to Bounce Back

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and while it may come as a surprise to you, this condition can have an impact on your oral health, specifically by increasing your risk for gum disease. 

Keep reading to better understand the connection between these two health problems and how we can help you bounce back!

Having Diabetes Can Put Your Gum Health at Risk

Common among youth, Type 1 diabetes is where the body lacks sufficient insulin production. This hormone is vital for transporting sugar to cells for energy. Type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance. Unfortunately, both types elevate blood sugar levels, exacerbating gum disease. Diabetes also weakens the body’s ability to combat gum disease-causing bacteria. 

But the good news is that if diabetes has made it harder for you to fight gum disease, there are ways to reverse the damage caused by the infection.

It’s best to let us know you have diabetes so we can take a proactive approach and closely monitor your gum health. Here are three ways we can help your oral health stay on track:

#1 – Regular Dental Check-ups and Cleanings 

Schedule routine dental exams and cleanings every six months, recommended for everyone, irrespective of diabetes diagnosis. These sessions are essential for early detection and prevention of gum disease. Research, endorsed by the American Dental Association, underscores that good oral hygiene and thorough cleanings can also aid in reducing HbA1c levels.

#2 – Scaling and Root Planing

If you exhibit signs of gingivitis or periodontitis, seek help from our team at Houston Uptown Dentists. Scaling and root planing, a non-surgical procedure, is utilized to eliminate bacterial buildup between the gumline and tooth roots. Plaque is gently removed both above and below the gumline, followed by smoothing the tooth roots to discourage future bacterial accumulation.

#3 – Gumline Restoration

Address gum recession through two treatment options:

  • Gum Grafts: A traditional approach involving securing a small piece of tissue over the receded gumline, promoting healthy regrowth of gum tissue and any lost bone.
  • Chao Pinhole™ Surgical Technique: An innovative and minimally invasive alternative to gum grafting, requiring specialized training, this technique involves creating a small hole in the gums and repositioning them to enhance tooth protection. The procedure is quick, as is the healing process.

Healthy gums are essential to your overall health, so taking care of them is important whether you have diabetes or not. Daily oral hygiene, a healthy lifestyle, and routine dental checkups with our skilled team are your best weapons against gum disease!

Call Houston Uptown Dentists at 832-463-1021 to request an appointment in Houston, TX, or schedule online.