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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Loosing teeth
- Thread starter zenny
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Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome @zenny 🙂 That sounds unpleasant and frustrating for you. Have you seen a dentist and got advice? Sometimes improper brushing technique can make things worse. I was told to use an electric toothbrush with gentle brushing heads to prevent damage to the gums.
If you can’t eat properly, then I’d think you might need some treatment, whether that be implants or something else.
If you can’t eat properly, then I’d think you might need some treatment, whether that be implants or something else.
Leadinglights
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- Type 2
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- She/Her
Implants usually need to be done fairly soon after the loss of the teeth and need good strong bone structure so the implant integrates into the bone.
They are expensive however but probably cheaper now than when I had some done several years ago £6000 for 2 implants and a bridge.
Certainly they were worth it for me.
They are expensive however but probably cheaper now than when I had some done several years ago £6000 for 2 implants and a bridge.
Certainly they were worth it for me.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
@Leadinglights That is expensive : o Are they not available on the NHS? I admit I know nothing about implants, but that’s a shocking price.
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Leadinglights
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- Type 2
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I'm afraid not, it seems dentures are the only offing on The NHS.
I am in the Denplan scheme but you have to pay a lot more for the plan even to get a veneer which I needed for a front tooth as it had half broken off.
rebrascora
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Implants are still very expensive and I would very much doubt that they are available on the NHS.
Hi @zenny So sorry to hear you are losing your teeth. That must be awful.
What I would ask is what is your diabetes management like? Having good control of your Blood Glucose (BG) levels should improve your dental health. I have been amazed at how much stronger my teeth have become since I changed my diet and went low carb. It seems an odd thing to say I know, but there were times before my diabetes diagnosis (and diet change) that I would chew on something hard and it would sort of hurt or be sore and my teeth were always chipping and losing fillings. Since changing my diet I regularly crunch down on pork scratching (low carb diet means that these are a good snack for me) and don't have any discomfort and my teeth hold up incredibly well to that regular challenge. My bones also feel stronger and I have less joint pain than I used to and can run down hills when before I used to hobble. I really feel that changing my diet has made a massive difference (improvement) to many aspects of my health, not just the diabetes.
When you say, you can't eat, I imagine that you can still drink fluids, so soups would be a good warming way of getting nutrition into your body. You can include all sorts of meat and veggies and stock and herbs and spices in them to make it tasty. I know that would get boring after a while but as a temporary solution until your dentist can deal with your teeth, then it might be your best option.
Hi @zenny So sorry to hear you are losing your teeth. That must be awful.
What I would ask is what is your diabetes management like? Having good control of your Blood Glucose (BG) levels should improve your dental health. I have been amazed at how much stronger my teeth have become since I changed my diet and went low carb. It seems an odd thing to say I know, but there were times before my diabetes diagnosis (and diet change) that I would chew on something hard and it would sort of hurt or be sore and my teeth were always chipping and losing fillings. Since changing my diet I regularly crunch down on pork scratching (low carb diet means that these are a good snack for me) and don't have any discomfort and my teeth hold up incredibly well to that regular challenge. My bones also feel stronger and I have less joint pain than I used to and can run down hills when before I used to hobble. I really feel that changing my diet has made a massive difference (improvement) to many aspects of my health, not just the diabetes.
When you say, you can't eat, I imagine that you can still drink fluids, so soups would be a good warming way of getting nutrition into your body. You can include all sorts of meat and veggies and stock and herbs and spices in them to make it tasty. I know that would get boring after a while but as a temporary solution until your dentist can deal with your teeth, then it might be your best option.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Also, if your BG levels are high (no idea if they are or not, but I am guessing that is a likely cause of tooth loss and gum disease in a long standing diabetic) I imagine they would not do the implants as there would be a risk of serious infection.
Do you know your most recent HbA1c result?
Are you on any medication for your diabetes?
Do you test your BG levels at home with a meter and if so, what sort of results do you typically get?
Sadly NHS dietary advice for Type 2 diabetics 17 years ago was not the best and in fact it hasn't improved that much, so I am not blaming you in any way if you do have poor diabetes management because you can't do better if you don't have good advice. So I don't mean my comments or questions above to be critical of you. Just trying to get an idea of your situation and what might help you.
Do you know your most recent HbA1c result?
Are you on any medication for your diabetes?
Do you test your BG levels at home with a meter and if so, what sort of results do you typically get?
Sadly NHS dietary advice for Type 2 diabetics 17 years ago was not the best and in fact it hasn't improved that much, so I am not blaming you in any way if you do have poor diabetes management because you can't do better if you don't have good advice. So I don't mean my comments or questions above to be critical of you. Just trying to get an idea of your situation and what might help you.
Aww thanks for the support! Yes I have been going regularly to visit my dentist. It is true I have had ups and downs to control my diabetes. I am 60 years old. I put my concern out there hoping if there are any other treatment or dentures. My dentist gave me some pieces of dentures for my missing teeth but that doesn’t work very well.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
What sort of things do you generally eat for breakfast lunch and evening meal. We can help you with dietary advice. Unfortunately, diabetes medication on it's own is usually not enough to control it and lifestyle changes are necessary alongside of the medication and in fact, many people can come off the medication with the right diet for them. It is a very key part of treatment and can be much more powerful than most diabetes tablets. It is a real shame that the NHS are not able to tackle this issue better but some of it is political.
If you can give us an idea of what you eat and drink, we can suggest alternatives which might help you improve your diabetes management.
Do you know the result of your most recent blood test to check your diabetes.... this is called an HbA1c test... and is used to diagnose and monitor your diabetes management. You can ring your surgery and ask for this number if you don't know it and don't be fobbed off with "it is fine" or "a bit high" or whatever. You want to know the actual number and you are entitled to that information. Diabetes is a condition which is really best managed by the patient with support from their GP but you need to invest some time and effort into understanding it in order to manage it well. We can help you with that and it can make all the difference in the world to your health. Many people here including myself are actually fitter and stronger and healthier and slimmer and feel younger as a result of our diabetes because it was the kick up the backside we needed to change things. It doesn't matter that you are 17 years down the line with diabetes or in your 60s or older, you can also feel better by changing your diet and lifestyle. I am not saying it is easy, but once you get the hang of it after the first couple of months it can actually be quite enjoyable and not difficult to maintain for the rest of your life. I'm afraid it won't grow back the teeth you have lost but it may improve your dental health for the remaining teeth.
If you can give us an idea of what you eat and drink, we can suggest alternatives which might help you improve your diabetes management.
Do you know the result of your most recent blood test to check your diabetes.... this is called an HbA1c test... and is used to diagnose and monitor your diabetes management. You can ring your surgery and ask for this number if you don't know it and don't be fobbed off with "it is fine" or "a bit high" or whatever. You want to know the actual number and you are entitled to that information. Diabetes is a condition which is really best managed by the patient with support from their GP but you need to invest some time and effort into understanding it in order to manage it well. We can help you with that and it can make all the difference in the world to your health. Many people here including myself are actually fitter and stronger and healthier and slimmer and feel younger as a result of our diabetes because it was the kick up the backside we needed to change things. It doesn't matter that you are 17 years down the line with diabetes or in your 60s or older, you can also feel better by changing your diet and lifestyle. I am not saying it is easy, but once you get the hang of it after the first couple of months it can actually be quite enjoyable and not difficult to maintain for the rest of your life. I'm afraid it won't grow back the teeth you have lost but it may improve your dental health for the remaining teeth.
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