Better Oral Health Can Help Manage Diabetes
If you suffer from diabetes, managing your blood sugar levels isn’t the only thing you’ll need to work harder at in order to stay healthy. As your family dentist in Vancouver, Dr. Nelson wants individuals with diabetes also have a higher risk of suffering from oral health problems due to the disease’s ability to impact how effectively your body fights harmful bacteria that grows in the mouth known as plaque. High blood sugar levels in the body encourage the growth of plaque, which can eventually lead to gum disease if left to thrive on your teeth and gums. You may already suffer from gum disease if you have: Red, bleeding, swollen, or sore gums, or gums that have begun recede away from the base of your teeth. Chronic bad breath Loose teeth Ill-fitting dentures or an irregular bite Fortunately, individuals with diabetes can still successfully manage their oral health by taking a few extra precautions. Control Your Diabetes Gingivitis and diabetes feed off each another to make both diseases worse for diabetics who don’t have their condition under control. Poorly controlled blood sugar levels increase your risk of developing oral health conditions such as tooth loss, dry mouth, gum disease, and fungal infections like thrush. Gum disease, such as gingivitis or the more serious periodontitis, and thrush can lead to an oral infection. Diabetics with an infection have an even harder time controlling their blood sugar levels, which in turn makes them more likely to develop an oral infection. To keep your mouth healthy and prevent infections, you need to have your diabetes under control. Schedule Regular Dental Visits Since individuals with diabetes have a higher likelihood of developing an oral infection, you need to schedule regular appointments with Vancouver dentist, Dr. Dale Nelson. Make sure to inform Dr. Nelson of your diabetes, and tell him of any medications you take to help control the disease. In addition to providing oral health cleanings that help to protect and strengthen your teeth, Dr. Nelson can also provide you with tips on how to properly care for your teeth at home as a diabetic. Depending on the current state of your oral health, Dr. Nelson recommend scheduling appointments every three months, instead of the usual six. Practice Quality Oral Hygiene As mentioned previously, high blood sugar levels encourage the growth of plaque in the mouth. The more plaque your mouth contains, the more acid this bacteria can create whenever you eat or drink sugary liquids. This acid slowly eats away at your teeth’s enamel, eventually causing gum disease and tooth decay. Since your mouth already creates more plaque naturally, you need to pay close attention to maintaining and practicing quality oral hygiene. This means brushing at least twice a day for two minutes at a time, and flossing daily. You should also consider adding an anti-bacterial mouthwash as part of your nightly oral hygiene routine. While a matter of personal preference on the type of brush used, studies have shown that electric and sonic toothbrushes help to clean more plaque from teeth than traditional handheld brushes. Individuals with uncontrolled diabetes may want to consider the use of an electric or sonic toothbrush to help combat the additional plaque their mouths creates.
Tooth Loss a Potential Early Warning for Heart Disease
For adults, losing teeth may represent the beginning of a variety of future health challenges. According to a new international study, adult tooth loss has links to a number of known risk factors for heart disease- including smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, and diabetes- and could serve as an early warning for individuals to take their heart health more seriously. While tooth loss may only seem like a problem for the elderly, tooth loss can actually happen at any age. In the U.S., the average person between the ages of 20 to 34 has roughly 27 permanent teeth; a complete set of adult teeth includes 32 teeth. Not surprisingly, however, as people age, the number of permanent teeth they have remaining tends to decrease; those between the ages of 35 and 49 have an average of 25 teeth remaining, while those 50 to 64 have roughly 22. Of seniors 65 and older, 25 percent have lost all of their remaining permanent teeth. Here at your best choice for Vancouver Washington dentist, Salmon Creek Family Dental, Dr. Nelson wants to make sure you have all the info about the connections. A Troubling Sign As part of the study, researchers from Sweden’s Uppsala University examined the medical records of 16,000 people from 39 countries who completed surveys on their remaining number of teeth and how frequently they experienced bleeding gums. Roughly 40 percent of the study’s participants had less than 15 teeth and 16 percent had no remaining teeth; 25 percent reported experiencing bleeding gums. Researches found a direct correlation between the fewer number of teeth a person had and an increase in the number of harmful enzymes that help to cause inflammation and the hardening of arteries. Researchers also noted that in addition to having fewer teeth, study participants tended to show an increase in other markers for heart disease, including levels of LDL cholesterol and elevated blood pressure, blood sugar, and weight gain. Participant who had fewer teeth were also more likely to suffer from diabetes, with a person’s risk increasing 11 percent for every significant reduction in the number of teeth they had remaining. Additionally, the study found that individuals who were either a former or current smoker also had an increased risk of tooth loss, and participants who suffered from bleeding gums had a higher risk of suffering from high blood pressure or cholesterol. The Heart & Mouth Connection For over 100 years, dentists and cardiologists have long suspected a connection between heart disease and oral health. While proponents of the most prominent theories linking the two have yet to find any substantial corroborative evidence, a consensus in the medical community is that more research is needed. The two most prominent theories on how a person’s oral health can affect his or her heart health include: Inflammation caused by gum disease can spread throughout the body, and cause inflammation to occur in other regions, including the heart. This inflammation can cause a narrowing of arteries, which increase a person’s risk of heart attack. Dental plaque, a primary cause of oral heath problems such as tooth loss, enters the blood stream through bleeding gums where it eventually makes it way to the heart. Once there, the dental plaque contributes to the buildup of arterial plaque, which can also cause a narrowing of the arteries and increase the risk of heart attack. Until more conclusive evidence is collected, researcher continue to recommended that adults work to take better care of their oral health in order to help reduce their risk of heart disease. If brushing wasn’t already important enough, this study provides just one more reason why taking care of your teeth and gums should also remain a top priority.
New Saliva Test Could Reveal Deadly Diseases
Research being conducted at the University of California-Los Angeles could lead to the development of a simple saliva test capable of early stage diagnosis of both cancer and diabetes, and perhaps certain types of autoimmune diseases and neurological disorders. The study, the most comprehensive examination ever performed on RNA molecules found in human saliva, discovered that saliva contains many of the same molecules capable of revealing disease that are found in blood. The study was published in the online journal Clinical Chemistry. Researchers hope to determine the presence of molecular targets in saliva, then ask what the targets present in the saliva are that can reveal a patient as having pre-diabetes or early stage pancreatic or oral cancer. Once revealed, patients can then begin to receive early care that increases their chances of recovery or remission. Researchers also noted that the saliva tests might also hold promise for diagnosing gastric cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and other types of disease. Researchers hope their study convinces the medical community at large about the important role saliva can play in diagnosing disease. The Study of Saliva RNA, widely considered as a cellular messenger that creates proteins and carries out DNA’s instructions to other parts of the cell, is now better understood to carry out sophisticated chemical reactions and is thought to perform a surprising number of other function, some of which are currently unknown. The focus for researchers at UCLA has specialized in identifying biomarkers in saliva. Researchers discovered that some of the same RNA found in human cell are also found in saliva and can be used to detect disease – a surprising finding considering enzymes in saliva can destroy RNA, transforming the mouth into a hostile environment. Among the different types of RNA, some unusual types live in the cells and in the mouth. For example, it wasn’t discovered until recently that RNA forms circular in addition to the previously established linear form. However, researchers at UCLA identified over 400 circular RNA types in human saliva – the first discovery of circular RNA in any bodily fluid. Currently researchers are unclear about the function circular RNA plays in the body, although it is understand that circular RNA serves as a sponge for tiny RNA molecules called microRNAs. In addition to this revolutionary discovery, researchers are optimistic about the tremendous potential saliva has as a scientific and medical tool. In the near future, researchers suspect that dentist could be able to take saliva samples to analyze for the presence of disease. Call our Vancouver family dental office today to schedule your appointment.