Why are diabetics more susceptible to oral diseases?

China is the country with the largest number of patients with diabetes in the world. The common chronic complications include retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy, etc., as well as the diabetes foot we said, which is familiar to all. But diabetes patients often ignore another problem - oral problems.

Experts from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Beijing said that in fact, diabetes patients have a variety of oral diseases, such as periodontal disease, oral mucosal lesions, dental caries, alveolar bone absorption, tooth loosening and falling off, etc.

So, why can high blood sugar affect oral health?

On the one hand, due to the decrease of saliva volume and the increase of glucose concentration in saliva, the self-cleaning ability of diabetes patients' oral cavity decreases, causing the breeding and reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms;

On the other hand, vascular lesions can cause ischemia, hypoxia, and damage to oral tissues such as gums, making them more susceptible to invasion by harmful substances such as bacteria. In addition, the barrier of wound healing in patients with diabetes will also lead to prolonged oral disease.

Experts remind diabetics to take the following three measures to effectively prevent oral diseases.

Reasonable control of blood sugar is the primary condition for avoiding oral diseases. Only when blood sugar control is stable can oral diseases be better prevented; For some diabetics who have already developed oral diseases, maintaining stable blood sugar levels can also assist in the treatment of oral diseases.

To maintain oral hygiene, it is important to prioritize brushing teeth in the morning and evening, and rinsing mouth after meals; Brush your teeth at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, and refrain from eating after brushing at night; Persisting in rinsing mouth after meals can help remove food residues and maintain oral hygiene.

Regular oral health check ups should be conducted regularly. Patients with diabetes should have an oral examination every 3 to 6 months. Take oral X-rays every 2 years. If you have periodontal disease, you can increase the frequency and frequency of oral examinations.

Reporter Li Jie from this newspaper

Responsible Editor: Shao Wanyun

Source: Beijing Youth Daily