{"id":476,"date":"2025-01-31T23:14:52","date_gmt":"2025-01-31T23:14:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indydentalgroup.com\/blog\/?p=476"},"modified":"2025-03-07T23:15:31","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T23:15:31","slug":"gum-disease-diabetes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.indydentalgroup.com\/blog\/2025\/01\/31\/gum-disease-diabetes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Gruesome Twosome: What You Should Know about Gum Disease and Diabetes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gum disease<\/a> is one of the most common health problems in the world, and many people grossly underestimate how bad it can get. While these infections often start out imperceptibly small, they will only get worse if left untreated and can eventually cause serious damage like gum recession and tooth loss. Unfortunately, gum disease and diabetes have a nasty way of making each other worse. Here\u2019s a brief guide to the link between gum disease and diabetes and how you can keep your mouth healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gum disease begins as gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, and it can usually be easily reversed at this stage by simply improving your brushing and flossing habits. However, gingivitis will eventually become periodontitis if it is allowed to progress. Periodontitis causes permanent damage, and patients who develop it will need regular periodontal therapy to manage the problem from then on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can Diabetes and Gum Disease Affect Each Other?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Diabetes is a health condition that limits the body\u2019s ability to produce insulin, which is the hormone it uses to regulate its blood sugar levels. Unfortunately, this condition also hampers the immune system, which makes it harder for the body to fight infections. If a diabetic develops gum disease, their body may have greater difficulty eliminating the infection, and the stress the struggle puts on the endocrine system may worsen the symptoms of diabetes in turn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Can I Protect My Gums if I Have Diabetes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, gum disease is remarkably easy to prevent even if you have diabetes. All you\u2019ll need to do is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n