Dental Preventive Care for American Diabetes Month®

November is American Diabetes Month, a time set aside to raise awareness of diabetes and provide new ways of managing the disease. If you suffer from diabetes, you know the far-reaching effects it can have for your overall health – and your dental wellness is no exception. That is why it is so important to receive dental preventive care, in addition to your regular diabetes treatment and management. Fortunately, we provide thorough preventive dentistry to help maintain your oral and physical health.

At Chisholm Trail Smile Center, Dr. Matthew Bridges offers a full array of preventive services. He proudly employs state-of-the-art digital x-rays to make earlier and faster diagnoses. Most importantly, he offers compassionate, personalized care. He will get to know you and your specific health needs to provide the best possible dental treatment.

Contact our Duncan, OK, office today to schedule your dental preventive care.

American Diabetes Month 2022

Every year, the American Diabetes Association choses a different theme for American Diabetes Month. This year, the theme is “Today’s Diabetes Hits Different!” Since the COVID-19 pandemic, diabetes patients face a new set of challenges. The disease hits different communities, has different risk factors, and raises the risks of different complications. Most significantly, today’s patients have different and higher costs to worry about.

Fortunately, as the American Diabetes Association points out, today’s patients also have different ways to fight the disease.

Diabetes and Dental Health

Diabetes can raise your risk for a number of oral health conditions. Gum disease is the most common of any diabetes-related health complication, affecting 22% of diabetes patients.

There are several reasons that diabetes could lead to gum disease. If you have uncontrolled blood sugar, the sugars can also end up in your saliva, providing food for harmful oral bacteria. Second, diabetes can affect your immune system, making it more difficult to fight off infections, including periodontitis. Furthermore, if you have diabetes, gum disease may be more severe and difficult to manage.

But the connection between oral and physical health goes two ways. Research shows that dental preventive care and gum disease management could actually help to lower your A1c.

Dental Preventive Care for Those with Diabetes

So what does oral care look like if you have diabetes? It begins at home with a firm commitment to routine brushing and flossing. If you wear dentures, you should clean the prosthetic at least once a day. After all, tooth loss does not make you immune to gum disease.

Second, schedule your dental exams and cleanings. At these appointments, your hygienist can remove the plaque and tartar that eventually lead to gum disease. Furthermore, Dr. Bridges can conduct a complete exam to look for the early signs of gingivitis. That way, he can catch the condition in the very earliest stages when it is reversible.

Be sure to tell Dr. Bridges about your diabetes diagnosis at your first appointment. Although biannual exams and cleanings are typical, he may recommend additional visits since you are in a higher risk group. Plus, he can partner with your healthcare team to provide truly comprehensive care.