Saliva Test To Predict Dental Health – Vital In Diabetes Care

Does saliva hold the key to predicting how susceptible you may be to tooth decay? Researchers at the University of Southern California are working on a simple user-friendly test that can tell whether you have certain proteins in your saliva that either protect you against decay or make you more vulnerable to cavities. Depending on the levels you have of each type, you may enjoy years of built-in protection.

On the other hand, if you have low levels of protective proteins and high levels of the bad ones, you may find yourself spending more time with your favorite dentist. There is also the potential for using the test for prevention. For example, if your dentist knows that you have low levels of protective proteins one approach may be to use preventive techniques such as applying sealants to keep the bad proteins from doing as much damage as they otherwise might. 

This could be a cost-effective approach, too. Prevention can cost about half as much as the lifetime cost of treating and maintaining a decayed tooth. Because of the potential savings, dental insurance carriers may jump on board in hopes of significantly lowering the amounts they pay for your care. And, of course, if it’s coming out of your pocket, a reduced cost over the long term can be well worth the up-front investment.

This could be especially important for people who have type 2 diabetes. If you have high blood sugar symptoms you’re at a much higher risk of gum disease or cavities. These two conditions interact in ways that interfere with blood sugar control and significantly boost your chances of catastrophic health events like heart attack and stroke.

Dentistry For Diabetics^SM dentists know how to lower blood sugar with dental care that can be an important component of diabetes treatment. Follow this link to find one of our Dentistry For Diabetics^SM dentists near you and talk with them about how they can help you with your diabetes control.