It is important for anyone to take good care of their oral health. A lifetime of good oral hygiene means a lifetime of a healthy set of teeth. People suffering from diabetes, especially need to be careful when it comes to oral health due to the higher risk factor for various problems. We have put together a few tips for keeping up a healthy mouth.
Keeping Blood Sugar Low
One of the key tips we can give for diabetics is to avoid high blood sugar levels whenever possible. High blood sugar makes it harder for your body to defend against oral health problems because it has more difficulty producing enough white blood cells to fight infections.
Use Alcohol-free Mouthwash
One of the symptoms of having diabetes is a dry mouth. If you are experiencing this, try switching to an alcohol-free mouthwash. The alcohol in “regular” mouthwash makes dry mouth symptoms worse. A dry mouth allows for bacteria to grow without the resistance saliva provides. In addition to this, having a dry mouth with food particles left inside is a recipe for tartar, gum disease, cavities, and tooth decay. This leads us to the next point.
Brush After Each Meal
Diabetes puts you more at risk for developing various oral health problems as mentioned in the first section, this is why it is important to brush after each major meal. If you are following the 3 meals a day schedule, this means you should brush 3 times a day. It is also recommended to wait 30 minutes after each meal to start brushing to allow softened enamel from food to harden again.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment. Call our office during open hours to schedule an appointment. If you are diabetic, we will be able to work with you to provide the care you deserve.
Dentist Hillsboro, OR | Dental Blog - Century Dental Hillsboro, OR Jefferson Call, DMD and Dix Densley, DDS believe that the better informed their patients are, the better their decisions about dental care can be. With this blog, they hope to inform and empower our readers in their oral health. - See more Century Dental, 2831 SE Cornelius Pass Rd, Hillsboro, OR 97123; (971) 708-1608; centurydentalllc.com; 10/8/2024; Page Phrases: Dentist Hillsboro OR
