Dr Vijay K. Sah
Diabetes has become one of the most common health problems nowadays and is on the rise. According to data from 2019, 463 million people are living with diabetes and dealing with its complications. It is more likely to occur in people who are in their middle age, and adults are no exception because of food habits, and stress patterns in today's world. It can be hereditary or acquired and is a condition that imbalances the normal metabolic symmetry of the body. Whether hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, it’s equally dangerous. It is one of the most vulnerable conditions that can affect any system in the human body. It can worsen the condition of the heart, the brain, the vascular system, the renal system, and likewise, and oral health is no exception.
Since the mouth is the portal of entry of many diseases, we need to be very careful about it. Most of the people in our country are not aware of oral health, which is a very important issue that needs to be addressed. Oral health is one of the major problems in diabetic patients and they need to be very careful during this crucial time as they are not supposed to visit the hospitals or the dentists, as they used to because we are living in a new normal i.e. social distancing. Diabetic patients come under vulnerable groups in the COVID-19 crisis.According to the data, COVID-19 is more prevalent in immunocompromised patients, and diabetes is one of them, so they are supposed to be more careful than the other healthy individuals. They need to take proper care of the oral health now and onwards.
The following symptoms might appear in the oral cavity if you are diabetic:
1. Dry mouth (Xerostomia)
2. Gum swelling and infection. (Gingivitis, Periodontal Abscess)
3. Gum bleeding.
4. Tooth sensitivity due to gum recession (Hypersensitivity)
5. Root caries.
6. Tooth mobility (Periodontitis)
7. Loss of taste
8. Non-healing ulcers.
9. Bad breath (Halitosis)
10. Candidiasis (Fungal Infection)
Xerostomia or dry mouth causes more damage to oral hard and soft tissues. The saliva plays a vital role to preserve the normal state of the oral cavity. Saliva acts as a defense system in the mouth and acts against any unusual pH changes. If the pH becomes less than or equal to 5.5 in the oral cavity, the irreversible changes in the hard tissues begin that can lead to caries or damage to the soft tissues. Certain precautions need to be taken by diabetic patients to prevent themselves from getting these complications, and those are:
1. Don’t let your mouth dry: take a sip of water every hour.
2. Don’t stress: keep yourself calm by doing meditation or work out twice a day.
3. Take your medications for diabetes on time.
4. Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
5. Use mouth-wash three times a WEEK.
6. Gargle with lukewarm saline water at least once daily.
7. Don’t use toothpick: Use dental floss once daily at night recommended by the dentists.
8. Clean your tongue every time you brush your teeth.
9. If you have a dental emergency like infection, swelling, bleeding, then call your dentist and ask to manage a safe dental appointment.
(Note: Please don’t take antibiotics without prescription by your dentists. Antibiotics are equally harmful to our body.)