Diabetics Need to be Informed on Oral Health Issues

Wed, 28 Sep 2011
Many diabetics are not aware of the close association between the state of their oral health and the likelihood of developing complications.

A new report, "Oral health awareness in adult patients with diabetes", emphasises that inflammation from swollen gums can heighten the severity of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as increase mortality rates due from oral cancer and oral pre-malignancies.

Long term, ineffectively controlled diabetes seems to quicken gum disease progression which if not treated can end up with you losing teeth.

A survey of 229 adult diabetics highlighted little awareness of any link between dental health and medical condition.

Just 13% were aware that diabetes can affect swollen or tender gums, or vice versa, whilst fewer still (12%) were aware of any association between diabetes and loose teeth.

Warwick Medical School confirmed that dental care and self- oral health care were rated as less important than other diabetes related self-care factors, such as, taking prescribed medicines or undergoing frequent eye checks.

Approximately a third of diabetic patients rated daily flossing at the bottom of their health related priorities.

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