Gum Disease and Diabetes

What do gum disease (or pyorhea) and diabetes have in common?  Each can make the other worse or better.  Poor blood sugar control can increase bone loss and worsen pocket depths.  Diabetes is the #1 condition that increases susceptibility to gum disease.  The #1 systemic condition adversely affected by perio disease is diabetes.   Type 2 Diabetes can be improved following perio treatment.  Be sure that your gum disease is checked every time you get your teeth cleaned.  This done by checking with a little round ruler all around each side of your tooth - this is called probing.  If you have gum disease we now know that it can never be cured-just maintained.   After 3 months ths bacteria in your mouth changes to a persistance of P. gingivalis which causes insulin resistance, early heart attacks, strokes, rheumatiod arthritis, pre-term low birthweight babies.  We are really oriented to helping you keep your teeth for life at Dr. McGarry's office!