Steps diabetic patients can take to ensure optimal dental care

• Find a dentist who is aware of the needs of diabetic patients.
• See the dentist on a regular basis and alert him or her of any changes in health status and medications.
• Inform the dentist of any sores, swellings, or areas of redness in the mouth, as well as any painful areas in the mouth.
• Eat a normal meal prior to the dental appointment, take all diabetic medications on schedule, bringing a blood sugar monitoring device to the appointment, and inform the dentist if symptoms associated with low blood sugar are felt.

20 Million Diabetics...are you one?

It is estimated that up to 20 million people have diabetes, but only two-thirds of these individuals are diagnosed. Studies have shown that diabetics are more susceptible to the development of oral infections and periodontal (gum) disease than those who do not have diabetes. Oral infections tend to be more severe in diabetic patients than non-diabetic patients. And, diabetics who do not have good control over their blood sugar levels tend to have more oral health problems. These infections occur more often after puberty and in aging patients