Did you know that one of the first areas affected by diabetes is your mouth? “But I’m not diabetic,” you think but ….are you sure? The American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates that approximately 7.0 million Americans are diabetic but undiagnosed and that 79 million more are in a ‘pre-diabetic’ state.
Diabetes is a growing problem in America. According to the ADA*, 25.8 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes and 1.9 million more were added last year.
Poor blood glucose makes your gums vulnerable to attack by the millions of bacteria currently inhabiting your mouth. Oral symptoms of diabetes include dry mouth, inflammation and poor healing. This infestation can start you on a path toward gingivitis and periodontitis as well as a whole host of systemic health problems including kidney disease and stroke and low birth weight babies.
One way to keep an eye on your blood glucose levels is to have your dentist test you during your twice yearly oral examination. By making this a part of your regular cleaning, you can address current dental concerns while preventing potential future threats. Like an x-ray looks for decay, a simple blood test can be helpful in spotting those first signs of diabetes and pre-diabetes before they wreak havoc on your system.
Ask us today about adding a simple blood glucose screening to your regularly scheduled checkup. *Data from the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet (released January 26, 2011) http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/
