Diabetes and Gum Disease
One of the many advantages of being based on Harley Street is the wide range of experts in different disciplines all around us. One of our groups of friends and neighbours are RW Perio, London’s Gum Health Specialists. Dr Reena Wadia and her team of Specialist Periodontists presented to our GPs on the relationship between diabetes and gum disease. We asked Dr Devan Raindi if he could summarise the relationship in a blog for our patients.
Putting the Mouth Back in the Body
Your gum health is closely linked with your general health and Dr Devan S Raindi, a gum specialist based at London’s leading specialist gum health clinic RW Perio at 75 Harley St discusses why getting your gums checked might just help your whole body in the long term.
Gum disease (periodontitis) is a common inflammatory condition. The latest evidence suggests 50% of the population have some form of the disease with 10% of the population having severe disease that leads to tooth loss. Furthermore, there are links between periodontitis and a range of other inflammatory health conditions, most notably Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease.
With Diabetes, the relationship works both ways, that is, blood sugar control can impact on your risk for gum disease but also uncontrolled/untreated gum disease can impact on blood sugar control/diabetic risk.
The Links between Diabetes and Gum Disease (Periodontitis)
- Uncontrolled diabetes/elevated blood sugars increase the risk of developing gum disease
- Uncontrolled diabetes leads to poorer gum treatment outcomes
- Uncontrolled gum disease/elevated blood sugars lead to a higher risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes
- Those with diabetes and who have gum disease demonstrate an increased risk of developing diabetic complications (e.g. cardiovascular, retinopathy, renal)
- Treating gum disease can reduce blood sugar levels (possibly by the equivalent of adding a second anti-diabetic medication)
The good news is gum disease is preventable and treatable. At RW Perio, specialist and advanced hygiene appointments are available, with the option of Diabetic Screening at specialist assessments. The Polish & Perfect advanced hygiene treatment is the signature regime for maintaining premier standards of oral care. The full mouth is deep cleaned and disinfected using piezo technology followed by advanced polishing Airflow treatment with an option for all ages across the whole family.
If you are interested in booking an appointment with a specialist or a comprehensive gum health maintenance appointment contact us at www.rwperio.com
You don’t need to be registered with The London General Practice to book an appointment or Health Screen with us and you can do either here. Or all us on 0207 935 1000.