Complications (5)
- Bone and joint problems associated with diabetes
- Amputation and diabetes: How to protect your feet
- Diabetic retinopathy
- see all in Complications
Lifestyle and home remedies (22)
- Diabetes management: How lifestyle, daily routine affect blood sugar
- Diabetes and dental care: Guide to a healthy mouth
- Diabetes and menopause: A twin challenge
- see all in Lifestyle and home remedies
Prevention (2)
- Diabetes prevention: 5 tips for taking control
- Healthy savings: The art of frugal food shopping
Risk factors (1)
- Diabetes risk self-assessment
Symptoms (1)
- Diabetes symptoms: When to consult your doctor
Tests and diagnosis (3)
- A1C test
- Glucose tolerance test
- Glucose challenge test
Treatments and drugs (8)
- Erectile dysfunction and diabetes: Take control today
- Insulin and weight gain: Keep the pounds off
- Pancreas transplant
- see all in Treatments and drugs
Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
close window
Housecall Archives
About our e-newsletters
- Free e-newsletters
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- We do not share your e-mail address
Housecall, our weekly general-interest e-newsletter, keeps you up to date on a wide variety of health topics with timely, reliable, practical information, recipes, blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts and more. Our biweekly topic-specific e-newsletters also include blogs, questions and answers with Mayo Clinic experts, and other useful information that will help you manage your health.
Housecall Archives
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
continued:
Diabetes and dental care: Guide to a healthy mouth
The solution: Proper dental care
To help prevent damage to your teeth and gums, take diabetes and dental care seriously:
- Make a commitment to managing your diabetes. Monitor your blood sugar level, and follow your doctor's instructions for keeping your blood sugar level within your target range. The better you control your blood sugar level, the less likely you are to develop gingivitis and other dental problems.
- Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Brush in the morning, at night and, ideally, after meals and snacks. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and toothpaste that contains fluoride. Avoid vigorous or harsh scrubbing, which can irritate your gums. Consider using an electric toothbrush, especially if you have arthritis or other problems that make it difficult to brush well.
- Floss your teeth at least once a day. Flossing helps remove plaque between your teeth and under your gumline. If you have trouble getting floss through your teeth, use the waxed variety. If it's hard to manipulate the floss, use a floss holder.
- Schedule regular dental cleanings. Visit your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings. Remind your dentist that you have diabetes. To prevent low blood sugar during dental work, you might want to eat before your dental visits.
- Take special precautions with dental surgery. If you're having dental surgery, make sure that your dentist consults with your doctor ahead of time. You may need to adjust your diabetes medications or take an antibiotic to prevent infection.
- Look for early signs of gum disease. Report any signs of gum disease — including redness, swelling and bleeding gums — to your dentist. Also mention any other signs and symptoms, such as dry mouth, mouth sores or mouth pain.
- Don't smoke. Smoking increases the risk of serious diabetes complications, including gum disease. If you smoke, ask your doctor about options to help you quit.
Managing diabetes is a lifelong commitment, and that includes proper dental care. Your efforts will be rewarded with a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
Previous page(2 of 2)
