Sunday, August 23, 2009

There Is A War Going On In Your Mouth!

There are more than 300 different species of bacteria attacking your gums and teeth 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Any of these can lead to inflammation and infection. Any of these can launch or worsen gum problems. Diabetics are predisposed to bacterial infections, so the dangers to you are much greater than for others. And all the brushing, flossing and WaterPiks® in the world are just not enough to stop these bacterial toxins waging war on your mouth.
If you have gum problems, it may not be as simple as having a "bad flossing disease" - and in your dentist's office, you won't get a finger-wagging, sharp voiced lecture on flossing! We understand that these bacteria and bacterial infections thrive on the sugars you have trouble regulating, and that you need a multi-faceted treatment approach including our help to win this war!

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Shocking Truth About Diabetes and Dental Cavities

Do you think people with diabetes are at a greater risk for dental cavities? One group of dentists believes that high glucose levels in the saliva of people with uncontrolled diabetes helps bacteria thrive, which leads to the development of cavities as well as sets you up for gum disease. Also, the fact that diabetic patients tend to eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day may mean there is a greater chance for bacteria to grow and lead to dental cavities. Another group of dentists believe that because people with diabetes are more knowledgeable about what they eat and the need to closely monitor their sugar intake, they don't eat many foods that contain cavity-causing sugars. The fact is that people whose diabetes is well controlled have no more tooth decay or periodontal disease than persons without diabetes. Here's the bottom line: Good oral hygiene and maintenance of blood sugar within the accepted range are the best protections against cavity formation and periodontal disease!

Saturday, August 15, 2009

The "Closed Loop" Between Dental Care and Diabetes

A recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General outlined the direct connections between gum diseases and dental care and diabetes. First, the evidence clearly shows that gum disease occurs more than twice as often in people with diabetes as for non-diabetics, and that it is much harder for diabetics to control.
Second, diabetes can aggravate, worsen and accelerate gum disease -- which in turn, makes it more difficult to control blood sugar levels. Gum disease includes infections, which can increase your body's resistance to insulin and make your diabetes increasingly difficult to control. An enemy of blood sugar control is gum disease. An enemy of healthy gums and teeth is uncontrolled blood sugar levels: "The Closed Loop".

Friday, August 7, 2009

How Does Diabetes Affect Your Dental Care?

Did you know that diabetes is a disease that can affect the whole body, including your mouth? Periodic dental care is necessary for people with diabetes because they face a higher than normal risk of oral health problems due to poorly controlled blood sugars. The less controlled your blood sugar is, the more likely dental problems will arise. Here's why: Uncontrolled diabetes impairs white blood cells, which are the body's main defense against bacterial infections that can occur in the mouth.

Another complication of diabetes, besides impairing white blood cells, is that it causes your blood vessels to thicken, which slows the flow of nutrients to (and waste products from) body tissues, including the mouth. When this combination of events happens, the body's ability to fight infections is reduced. Since periodontal disease is a bacterial infection, diabetics may experience more frequent and more severe gum disease.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

No Matter What You Have Heard...Not All Dentists Are the Same

A report published in The Journal of Contemporary Dental Practice flatly stated: "The dental profession is SEVERELY LACKING in this (diabetes care) knowledge base at a time when the disease is nearing epidemic proportions." If you are a diabetic, You NEED a dentist thoroughly knowledgeable about YOUR special needs.

http://NewmanSpringsDentalCare.com