{"id":4141,"date":"2021-10-04T10:00:28","date_gmt":"2021-10-04T10:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/?p=4141"},"modified":"2024-03-07T01:18:22","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T01:18:22","slug":"how-diabetes-affects-your-smile-and-what-to-do-about-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thedentalexpress.com\/dental-blog\/how-diabetes-affects-your-smile-and-what-to-do-about-it\/","title":{"rendered":"How Diabetes Affects Your Smile (And What to Do About it)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Diabetes can affect every part of your body, including your dental health. Find out how and learn 5 preventive measures to safeguard your smile<\/span><\/h1>\n

Diabetes is a widespread condition in the United States, affecting 34.2 million Americans \u2014 around 10% of the population.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In 2018, statistics showed that there were at least 1.5 million new cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

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But while many people know that it can adversely affect the kidneys, nerves, eyes, and heart, this condition has a lesser-known impact on the body.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Diabetes can damage your smile in several different ways, and it often does\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

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But!<\/span><\/p>\n

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It wouldn\u2019t be a <\/span>Dental Express<\/b><\/a> article if we didn\u2019t give you some dentist-approved tips to preserve your dental health.<\/span><\/p>\n

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So, follow along as we go over what diabetes is, how it can harm your mouth, and the best ways to fight back.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is Diabetes?<\/span><\/h1>\n

First off, it\u2019s important to note that there are two main types of diabetes: Type I and Type II.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Both involve issues with insulin, an essential hormone produced by the pancreas that helps cells absorb sugar from the bloodstream.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Here’s how it works…<\/span><\/p>\n

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Whenever you eat food, your body breaks most of it down into sugars. Those sugars then enter your bloodstream, which your pancreas sees as a signal to start producing insulin.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The insulin essentially escorts the sugars out of the bloodstream and into the cells that need them, providing energy for your body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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But when you have diabetes, this process is disrupted.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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In those who have diabetes, insulin is either not available, or their body can\u2019t make proper use of it, which leaves all that blood sugar hanging around in their bloodstream.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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And when high levels of blood sugar sit in the bloodstream for too long, it can lead to serious health issues, which we\u2019ll cover in a moment.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Type I Diabetes<\/span><\/h2>\n

Now that we\u2019ve covered the basics, let\u2019s explore the difference between the two types, starting with Type I.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Type I diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body prevents itself from producing insulin. To manage their blood <\/span>sugar<\/b><\/a> levels, Type I diabetics have to inject insulin every day. If not, the consequences can be life-threatening.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Out of the 34.2 million people with diabetes, anywhere from 5-10% of them have Type I. Children, teenagers, and young adults usually develop this condition before adulthood.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Type II Diabetes<\/span><\/h2>\n

Type II diabetes occurs when high blood sugar levels are a constant issue. Trying to keep up, the pancreas creates more and more insulin to balance things out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Eventually, in response to the cranked-up insulin levels, cells simply don\u2019t respond to it as well anymore. This process is called insulin resistance, which is the precursor to Type II diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Around 90-95% of people with diabetes struggle with Type II.<\/span><\/p>\n

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There are medications to treat it, but a healthy diet and regular exercise are the best natural cures.<\/span><\/p>\n

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How Does Diabetes Affect My Dental Health?<\/span><\/h1>\n

If you or a loved one has diabetes, you\u2019re no stranger to the health risks that come with it. Heart disease, cardiovascular disease, circulatory issues, kidney disease, and vision loss are just a few.<\/span><\/p>\n

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But when it comes to your dental health, there are several other factors to be aware of.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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We borrowed a list of potential symptoms from the <\/span>American Dental Association<\/b><\/a>, so you know what to look out for. Check them out below:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n