How Diabetes Affects Your Oral Health
Last reviewed
Why diabetes raises the risk of gum disease, and how the two worsen each other
If you have diabetes, your mouth needs extra attention. Diabetes and gum disease affect each other both ways: diabetes raises your risk of gum disease, and gum disease makes blood sugar harder to control. Here's the connection and how to manage it.
How diabetes affects your mouth
- More gum disease. Diabetes lowers the body's ability to fight bacteria, so people with diabetes are two to three times more likely to develop periodontitis.
- Dry mouth. High blood sugar can reduce saliva, causing soreness, ulcers, and decay — saliva normally neutralises acid and washes away food.
- Slower healing. Diabetes slows healing, so gums recover more slowly from infection or treatment.
How your mouth affects diabetes
- Blood-sugar control. Inflammation from gum disease can increase insulin resistance and push blood sugar up.
- Treating gum disease helps. Studies show that managing gum disease can improve blood-sugar markers (HbA1c) in people with diabetes.
Tips for a healthy smile and steadier blood sugar
- Brush and floss at least twice a day to keep plaque down.
- See your dentist regularly — a check-up and cleaning every six months, or more often if advised.
- Keep blood sugar in range to lower your oral-health risk.
- Don't smoke, which worsens both gum disease and diabetes.
- Eat a balanced diet that supports your gums and your blood sugar.
Managing diabetes? Tell us at your visit so we can tailor your care. Book a gum health check, and see how oral health affects your body.