June 12, 2008
What Your Dentist Should Do, #5: Stay Current With Research
Your dentist should be committed to staying up to date on the latest research results on the connections between diabetes, oral infection and inflammation. It’s a commitment that not all practitioners may be willing to make. That’s just one more reason for you to check out your DentistryForDiabeticsSM regional practitioner.
Research on inflammation abounds. Medical professionals are continually learning more and more about the effects of inflammation on the body and why symptoms of inflammation need to be carefully monitored and treated almost daily.
Gum disease is a source of inflammation that triggers the formation of C-reactive proteins. These proteins are the body’s “first alert” system for fighting the onset of inflammation. The goal of your dentist and your physician should be to help you avoid inflammation bouts that can trigger a series of health problems. For your best health, the three of you need to be working together as a team.
As a person with diabetes you are twice as likely to develop gum disease, especially true if your diabetes symptoms aren’t under control. If you also have severe gum disease, you face a premature death rate that’s eight times higher than people with diabetes who don’t have periodontal disease. And if you suffer from both these problems, you are three times as likely to die of combined heart and kidney failure. Gum disease can also be a predictor of end-stage kidney disease. And, once gum disease is established in your mouth, you may find it makes it more difficult to control your diabetes. It can also lead to increased blood vessel disease.
For more diabetes information, get your free report that includes 10 fascinating health, nutrition, exercise, eating plan tips and strategies at DentistryForDiabetics.com.
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