NEW YORK, NY - Aligned with Diabetes Awareness Month in November, primary care providers and dental professionals across the country are educating their patients about the association between oral health and diabetes and on the importance of good oral health as a part of overall diabetes management.

For the nearly 24 million Americans living with diabetes, many may be surprised to learn about an additional complication associated with the condition – serious gum disease. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), there is an increased prevalence of gum disease among those with diabetes, making proper oral health and hygiene a key factor to living well with diabetes.
Recent research shows that people living with diabetes are twice as likely to develop serious gum disease as people without diabetes. They are at an increased risk for gum disease because they are generally more susceptible to bacterial infection, and have a decreased ability to fight bacteria that invade the gums. Emerging research also suggests that the association between serious gum disease and diabetes is a two-way relationship. Not only are people with diabetes more susceptible to developing gum disease, but serious gum disease also known as periodontitis can adversely affect blood glucose control and contribute to the progression of diabetes.

"Overall, there is low awareness among the diabetes community about the association between oral health and the short and long-term implications it may have on a successful, comprehensive diabetes management plan," said Dr. Maria Emanuel Ryan, a professor of oral biology and pathology at Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, N.Y. "One of the many complications of diabetes is a greater risk for periodontal disease. Poor control of diabetes can cause various adverse effects in the mouth, such as salivary gland dysfunction, dental caries and oral infections. If you have ...