Any one else experiencing dental problems and trouble getting an appointment. I am a 67year old male also suffering from osteoporosis, prostate cancer and a rare incurable muscle wasting disease. (Aren’t I healthy!). Now have gum disease and needing special toothpaste and mouthwash. Has anyone else developed dental problems soon after diagnosis?
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Dental problems with diabetes.
- Thread starter Bedford 1
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How are your blood sugars?
When we have high blood sugars, our body tries to get rid of the excess sugar. This is why a common symptom is frequent urinating.
But we also get excess sugar in saliva which can cause gum disease. I have heard of some people getting diabetes diagnosis following on from a dental appointment for this reason.
Another way our body tries to get rid of this excess sugar is through our tears. I remember this because when I was first diagnosed I found it upsetting but when the tears dripped down my face, I noticed they were sweet. Soon the tears of frustration led to tears of laughter as my partner licked my face trying to taste the sweetness.
Sorry, I digressed.
When we have high blood sugars, our body tries to get rid of the excess sugar. This is why a common symptom is frequent urinating.
But we also get excess sugar in saliva which can cause gum disease. I have heard of some people getting diabetes diagnosis following on from a dental appointment for this reason.
Another way our body tries to get rid of this excess sugar is through our tears. I remember this because when I was first diagnosed I found it upsetting but when the tears dripped down my face, I noticed they were sweet. Soon the tears of frustration led to tears of laughter as my partner licked my face trying to taste the sweetness.
Sorry, I digressed.
Cherrelle DUK
Much missed Online Community Coordinator
Hi Bedford1,
Helli has provided some great insight above. Hopefully things will settle down as your BG gets to a consistently healthy range.
In the mean time, the special toothpaste and mouth wash should keep things at bay so worth getting into a routine with them as well as reducing the sugar and carb intake as soon as you can.
Helli has provided some great insight above. Hopefully things will settle down as your BG gets to a consistently healthy range.
In the mean time, the special toothpaste and mouth wash should keep things at bay so worth getting into a routine with them as well as reducing the sugar and carb intake as soon as you can.
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I had receding gums long before I was diagnosed Type 1 (so how long was the D really brewing, then? - I've always wondered) - and high BG makes it worse. (D is kinda like old age - don't come on its own ....)
rebrascora
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- Type 1
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Sorry to hear about all your health issues.
As others have said, getting your diabetes under control will be key to improving your oral health but obviously the special toothpaste/mouthwash should help in the meantime and perhaps as a regular routine hence forward.
Have you modified your diet as a result of your diabetes diagnosis? Reducing your carbohydrate intake will help to lower your BG levels. Many newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetics think that it is all about sugar, but all carbs turn to glucose in our digestive system and are absorbed into our blood, so starchy carbs like bread and pasta and rice, potatoes and breakfast cereals cause us as much of a problem as sugar and sweets and cakes and biscuits and even the healthy high carb foods like fruit and porridge can cause our levels to rise significantly.
People also often assume that the medication they are given will sort the problem on it's own and it really needs to be a multi faceted approach to tackle their condition through diet, exercise, weight loss and if appropriate, medication. I appreciate you are very limited as to what you can do exercise wise, but diet is hugely important. We can give you advice and suggestions for low carb swaps if you need some help.
Out of curiosity, could your muscle wastage condition be linked to your diabetes? There have been a few posts recently on the forum about muscle wastage of the lower body particularly, due to very high BG levels and I see your HbA1c at diagnosis was 80 and 86, which is quite high. It is a rare condition/complication of diabetes I believe and many consultants seem to know little about it but it can actually improve with better BG control..... just wondering if the two might be linked if you are seeing loss of muscle in legs, back and hips etc..... Just trying to do a search to find the name of the condition.... Apologies if it is clearly some other condition which is not linked to your diabetes, but worth bearing in mind that diabetes can often go undetected for many years, so can have an impact in other health respects before it is identified and treated.
As others have said, getting your diabetes under control will be key to improving your oral health but obviously the special toothpaste/mouthwash should help in the meantime and perhaps as a regular routine hence forward.
Have you modified your diet as a result of your diabetes diagnosis? Reducing your carbohydrate intake will help to lower your BG levels. Many newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetics think that it is all about sugar, but all carbs turn to glucose in our digestive system and are absorbed into our blood, so starchy carbs like bread and pasta and rice, potatoes and breakfast cereals cause us as much of a problem as sugar and sweets and cakes and biscuits and even the healthy high carb foods like fruit and porridge can cause our levels to rise significantly.
People also often assume that the medication they are given will sort the problem on it's own and it really needs to be a multi faceted approach to tackle their condition through diet, exercise, weight loss and if appropriate, medication. I appreciate you are very limited as to what you can do exercise wise, but diet is hugely important. We can give you advice and suggestions for low carb swaps if you need some help.
Out of curiosity, could your muscle wastage condition be linked to your diabetes? There have been a few posts recently on the forum about muscle wastage of the lower body particularly, due to very high BG levels and I see your HbA1c at diagnosis was 80 and 86, which is quite high. It is a rare condition/complication of diabetes I believe and many consultants seem to know little about it but it can actually improve with better BG control..... just wondering if the two might be linked if you are seeing loss of muscle in legs, back and hips etc..... Just trying to do a search to find the name of the condition.... Apologies if it is clearly some other condition which is not linked to your diabetes, but worth bearing in mind that diabetes can often go undetected for many years, so can have an impact in other health respects before it is identified and treated.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
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- Type 1
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- She/Her
Found it.... Diabetic Amyotrophy
My dentist has been keeping an eye on my gums. She told me it is very difficult to separate the difference between diabetic gum disease and age related plaque induced gum disease. Her advice, keep teeth clean and floss regularly which could eliminate the plaque induced factor.
trophywench
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Sharron - I had my first appt for 2 years in May. I said to him what about plaque - and he started saying Well we can't use aerosol producing blah blah - and I said - No I know you can't - but I used to have it removed in lumps every 6 months before they invented ultrasonic doodahs, so the question to you is have I got any that needs removing and if so, will you please do it, even though it makes my eyes water!
He did it, and it did make my eyes water. Horrible scraping, mouth full of grit after, wash it out and spit it down his sink. Thank you!
He did it, and it did make my eyes water. Horrible scraping, mouth full of grit after, wash it out and spit it down his sink. Thank you!
I had my first appointment in 15 months (the longest time i can recall between appointments). She did the scrapping off of plaque. The result of no dental check for all that time was finding a chipped tooth. She is going to repair that. The thing is I was really pleased that's all she could find after such a long time. Simple delights in these covid times.
Leadinglights
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- Type 2
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- She/Her
I had what they called a deep clean treatment which helped to 'cure' it. Together with a high fluoride tooth paste Duraphat, on prescription from the dentist.
High glucose levels will encourage your mouth bacterial flora to be high which in turn will affect your gum health. Also you will be more prone to oral thrush.
High glucose levels will encourage your mouth bacterial flora to be high which in turn will affect your gum health. Also you will be more prone to oral thrush.
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