Want Some Life Saving Advice?
Ask Your Dental Hygienist About Oral Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes
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For more information on diabetes, illCiting the Centers for Disease Control nesses related to the disease, and American and Prevention CDC, The American Diabetes Month in November, contact the Diabetes Association ADA reports that diaAmerican Diabetes Association Web site at betes contributed to more than 210,000 wwwdiabetesorg deaths in the United States in 20001 And for more information about proper Currently recognized by the CDC as the sixth leading cause of death among Americans, as oral health care, as well as brushing- andflossing instructions, please ask your regismany as 18 million Americans have diabetes tered dental hygienist, or visit the ADHA Web and 41 million have pre-diabetes1 site, at wwwadhaorg However, help in detecting diabetes may come from an unlikely source–a registered 1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National diabetes fact sheet: dental hygienist Research studies have general information and national estimates on diabetes in the United States, 2003 Rev ed Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health
and Human found a link between periodontal gum disServices, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004 ease and diabetes Symptoms of the disease often appear in the mouth, while almost one-third of people with diabetes have severe periodontal dis Frequent urination Frequent infections ease1 This is believed to be a result Extreme hunger Blurred vision of the diabetic patients greater sus Unusual thirst Unusual weight loss ceptibility to developing infections Extreme fatigue Conversely, severe periodontal disease may increase the risk of develMake an oral health appointment if you notice oping diabetes, and may make it you experience any of these warning signs of more difficult to manage blood sugar periodontal disease: levels However, studies have found Bleeding gums when you brush or eat that patients w 
ho receive treatment Red, swollen, or tender gums for periodontal disease may be able Gums that have pulled away from your teeth to control the condition with less Pus between your teeth and gums when the insulin gums are touched According to the American Dental Change in the way your teeth fit together Hygienist Association ADHA, dental when you bite hygienists
often detect symptoms of Persistent bad breath or unusual taste in diabetes during routine oral health your mouth examinations Foamy saliva and With research indicating that periodontal disunusually dry and irritated tissue ease and diabetes complicate each other, the inside the mouth are tell-tale signs of ADA and ADHA recommend the following: the condition And, diabetic patients often lose more teeth compared to Monitor your blood glucose level patients without the disease Have your teeth cleaned and checked at According to the ADA, diabetes least every six months that goes unchecked or untreated Brush at least twice each day to remove can result in serious and life-threatplaque, using a soft nylon brush with rounded ening complications, such as blindends on the bristles ness; kidney disease; heart disease Tilt the bristles at about a 45-degree angle and stroke; and nerve disease that against the gum line and brush gently in a can lead to limb amputation circular motion In addition to helping patients Brush front and back and also brush the understand the connection between chewing surfaces oral health care and overall health, Brush the upper surface of your tongue dental
hygienists educate patients Use dental floss at least once a day to remove about proper oral hygiene and treat plaque and bacteria from between your teeth periodontal disease to prevent the Special floss holders and various types of floss condition from advancing and comare available to make flossing easier plicating other diseases
Warning Signs of Diabetes:
5/30/2006
Source:state.nj.us
