DIABETES & DENTISTRY – PART 2

Last week I discussed the role and effect that diabetes has on oral health. It is not something that should be taken lightly. If you missed this column, please visit the website at the end of this column or e-mail me directly and I will send you a copy.

After reading last week’s column, it may seem frightening that there is no way out of the partnership of horrors between diabetes and severe gum disease. There are solutions. Just as poor oral health can compound a diabetic’s situation, proper oral health can come to the rescue.

Clinical studies confirm that treatment of gum disease reduces oral inflammation, which removes the factor that triggers the body’s inflammatory response which, in turn, plays a major role in compounding the effects of diabetes. Dental treatments that fight gum infections also help improve control of blood sugar levels in diabetics.

If you are pre-diabetic, your dentist may actually be able to help prevent diabetes. If you already have diabetes, your dentist may be able to help you keep it under control, improve your quality of life, and reduce the risk of premature death.

There’s even better news. It’s never too late to improve oral health care. Even if you already have severe gum disease or other dental problems, proper treatment can help stop it in its tracks. In many cases, dentists can even reverse the damage done to your teeth and gums as well as manage the metabolic elements of diabetes. And, if you haven’t yet developed any symptoms of diabetes-related oral health problems, your dentist can start a prevention program that will help you stay in control of your diabetes, maintain better health and enjoy a preferred quality of life.

Perhaps the best news is that this is something that doesn’t require exercise, taking a pill, giving yourself a shot of insulin, or sticking to a special diet. However, some or all of these things may be necessary to also help control diabetes. From an oral health perspective all you need to do is to start seeing your dentist and talking to him or her about your particular situation.

When it comes to partnering with you to manage the oral health issues in regards to diabetes or pre-diabetes, there are going to be varying degrees of participation from dentists, depending on their knowledge or “philosophy” of care. The best team approach is between the doctor, the patient and the dentist. If one of these team members does not participate, the battle cannot be won. Often times, it is the patient who is not doing the things that he or she needs to do to properly manage the problem. If the dentist does not seem too concerned about your diabetes and you have the desire to have your oral health properly managed and are willing to do your part, find a new dentist.

The point is that this is a serious issue and if you, the patient, wants to take control of it, a team effort is needed. Find the right team. Make a commitment to improve your health and quality of life. You can do this.

Dr. St. Clair maintains a private dental practice in Rowley and Newburyport dedicated to health-centered family dentistry. If there are certain topics you would like to see written about or questions you have please email them to him at jpstclair@stclairdmd.com. You can view all previously written columns at www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com/blog.