What dentists look for when treating patients with diabetes
By Dr Allauddin Siddiqi, Periodontist
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, or you have been told you are pre-diabetic, there are a few things you may not know about how it can affect your oral health.
Believe it or not, your mouth is one of the first places where the effects of diabetes show up, it’s also one of the most important places to keep your health under control.
As a Periodontist, Dr Allauddin Siddiqi specialises in the health and care of the gums and the underlying structures that support your teeth. With experience treating gum conditions and supporting patients with diabetes-related oral health concerns, he understands the connection between diabetes and oral health.
“Healthy gums, better diabetes control.
Better diabetes control, healthier gums.”
Dr Allauddin Siddiqi, Periodontist
The connection between blood sugar levels and gum disease
Diabetes and gum disease are closely connected. They don’t just occur alongside each other but can also influence and worsen each other over time.
When your blood sugar is too high, it produces harmful bacteria in your mouth creating the perfect conditions to grow, leading to swollen and irritated gums. What’s not widely known is that unhealthy gums can also make it harder to keep your blood sugar under control.
It can become a vicious cycle, where high blood sugar can affect your gums, while gum disease can make your diabetes harder to manage.
This is why looking after your gums isn’t just about your mouth and oral care. For people with diabetes, it’s a real part of managing the condition itself.
How diabetes affects your teeth and gums
When a patient with diabetes visits a dentist thorough examination of your teeth and gums is an important first step.
First measuring the depth of the pockets between each tooth and the gum. Healthy pockets are shallow, while deeper pockets signal that infection and bone loss may be developing beneath the gumline.
Dentists will also look at the colour, texture and condition of your gum tissue. Red, swollen or bleeding gums are a sign of active inflammation. This isn’t just a cosmetic issue, if left untreated, diabetes gum disease can destroy the bone that holds your teeth in place.
X-rays are also used to give insight on any jawbone loss that isn’t visible during the physical examination. Where bone loss has already occurred, determining how far things have progressed and creating a treatment plan to bring it back under control is the next step.
Other mouth problems linked to diabetes
Beyond the gums and bone, there are several other things that dentists such as Dr Siddiqi specifically evaluate in diabetic patients.
Dry mouth can mean your mouth is not producing enough saliva. This is a common issue linked to diabetes and its medications. Over time, a lack of saliva allows harmful bacteria to grow, significantly increasing the risk for both tooth decay and gum disease.
Healing is also a major consideration. Diabetic patients often experience slower tissue healing, which affects recovery following any dental procedure.
Why more frequent appointments matter
For most patients, its recommended you keep up your twice-yearly dental check-ups.
However, this recommendation can increase to three to four times a year depending on a patient’s blood sugar and overall gum health.
As more frequent professional cleaning and monitoring can help catch deterioration early and prevent problems from getting worse.
What does good oral care for diabetics look like?
Before your next appointment, make sure you tell your dentist you have diabetes or pre-diabetes. Let them know what medications you take and how your blood sugar has been tracking.
If you have your blood sugar levels history on an app, show them the results on your phone. This information can help dentists examine you and plan your care.
At home, brush twice daily and floss every day. It’s also important to watch for early warning signs, such as bleeding gums, gums pulling away from your teeth or persistent bad breath.
The sooner you act on these signs, the better the outcome.
Take action today
If you have diabetes, pre-diabetes or you are simply serious about protecting your long-term health, book your nib Dental appointment to speak about your gum health with a professional now.
Dr Allauddin Siddiqi is a specialist Periodontist and research scholar.
