Diabetes & Dental Health — What You Need to Know
A family is one of the most magnificent gifts God has given to all living creatures on the earth, including humans. It is a privilege to have a happy family as not everyone in the world has it.
The greatest gift of family is the strength of the bond we all share amongst our family members. If you ever fall sick or are going through a problem, your family will never hold back from helping you to overcome the obstacles.
A happy family is the one who takes care of the overall health of each member and a family photo without smiles is incomplete. Thus, having beautiful teeth is equally essential, along with taking care of overall health. Often people ignore dental problems because the treatments are done over a long period, and the costs are mostly high. You must remember that poor oral hygiene leads to dental problems and gum disease, linked to heart disease, cancer and also diabetes.
Thanks to globalization and development in the health industry, many nations welcome foreign patients who seek medical aid which they couldn’t get in their home nations due to reasons such as affordability and availability of facilities. ‘Medical tourism’ is one such term which means tourists visit various countries to get their health treatment done along with being a tourist enjoying the nation’s heritage and tourist spots. Asian nations like Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, India are the leading nations in the medical tourism industry. Dental Tourism in India is relatively accessible worldwide given the quality treatment, affordability, ease of access and beautiful destinations this nation has to offer. So, you can do your share of research for going to India, and this can be done for considerably lower prices than which you get in the USA or the UK.

Today, numerous diseases are common, and one of them is diabetes. Diabetes, alias Diabetes Mellitus (DM), is a type of metabolic disorders identified by a high blood sugar level over a continued period. Signs of high blood sugar involve frequent urination, increased thirst, and an enormous appetite. If left untreated, diabetes can cause many difficulties.
Just as there is World Cancer Day to raise awareness about cancer, the International Diabetes Federation has promoted World Diabetes Day since 1991. Every year, World Diabetes Day falls on November 14th, which also marks the birthday of Frederick Banting, the co-discoverer of insulin and its therapeutic potential. The theme of World Diabetes Day for 2019 is “Family and Diabetes”. Hence, it aims to spread awareness about diabetes through various ways like campaigns, workshops and health check-ups.
Diabetes can cause complications such as heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, leg amputation, vision loss and nerve damage. Diabetes also is a cause of concern for oral health. Periodontal disease, a type of gum disease, is the sixth leading complication of diabetes. If it is left untreated, you might experience tooth loss. It also makes it more difficult for you to control your blood sugar level because of your body’s reaction to this periodontal disease.
Patients who effectively control their diabetes and oral health care can save more than $3,000 per year on their health care costs. Root canals are one of the most usual dental procedures and also can cause oral infections to diabetics which can cause gum disease. Root canal treatment in India costs lesser than what a person has to pay in the USA or the UK. You can consider having your family’s dental treatment done in India, which would cost you what might’ve been the expense for a single person in North America.

Uncontrolled blood sugar level further makes a diabetic an easier target for contracting infections. Fortunately, periodontal disease can be avoidable. Adding these practices to your daily routine can help.
· Rigorously clean your teeth and gums with toothpaste that contains fluoride twice a day.
· Every day, use dental floss to clean between your teeth.
· You should avoid having a dry mouth. Drink adequate amounts of water and chew sugar-free gum to stimulate saliva production.
· Avoid smoking.
· Get a dental check-up every six months.
· Maintain maximum control over your blood sugar levels, check your blood sugar regularly.
· If you wear any denture, clean it every day.
· Check your mouth for irregularities every month. White patches, dryness, and bleeding areas are causes of concern.
· You might also have to postpone your dental treatment if your blood sugar levels aren’t in control. The reason being post-procedure infection risk is increased if your blood sugar levels are high.
· You must keep your physician updated about your oral condition and treatment, and your dentist is kept up to the minute with your diabetic disease.
Make sure that you eat a healthy diet and follow all of your dentist’s instructions regarding medication and follow-up care. So to conclude, managing diabetes is a lifelong dedication, and that includes right dental care. Your work will be rewarded with a lifetime of great teeth and gums.
