National Dental Hygiene Month

October is National Dental Hygiene Month, and we are excited to be bringing some eye-opening research from our new "Oral Health and..." educational brochures right here to our blog this month!

The purpose of this campaign is to educate our patients and community on the strong relationships between your oral health and other diseases and health conditions. By visiting your dentist regularly and keeping up with oral hygiene you may be able to decrease the risk of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and more.

For pregnant women, you can even decrease the risk for premature delivery, low birth weight, and more by maintaining good oral hygiene.

From Oral Health and Pregnancy to Oral Health and Diabetes and so much more, this research is incredibly important to view and learn from.

Let's kick it off with Oral Health and Diabetes!

So, what's the connection?

Those with diabetes are more likely to have uncontrolled or excess sugar in their saliva. Bacteria can build up on the teeth and around the gums because of this, often causing gum disease and thrush. Recognizing the oral signs of the disease may help diagnose someone with diabetes.

1. Thrush - a fungal disease caused by an increased level of saliva in the mouth and a weakened immune system. Thrush causes intense pain and white patches in the mouth. Symptoms grow worse in those with diabetes.

2. Periodontal Disease (Gum Disease) - people with diabetes are more likely to experience periodontal disease and are more likely to have stronger symptoms like increased pain and tooth loss, especially those who are unable to keep their blood sugars in a healthy range.

Why it Matters

Recognizing the oral signs of the disease may help diagnose someone with diabetes. Also, knowing someone has diabetes may help explain and properly treat these dental issues.

Become a patient at our free clinic by visiting Become a Patient | healthlink (healthlinkdental.org)

Sources from American Diabetes Association, Medical News Today, and National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research