Gum Disease & Diabetes

Gum Disease or Pyorhea how does it relate to Diabetes?  They are in a bidirectional relationship.  That means Diabetes increases the risk and severity of gum disease. Gum Disease worsens glycemic control.  Increased vascularity (do you gums bleed when you brush) in gum disease increases bacteremia and release of inflammatory mediators which increase insulin resistance.  Poor blood sugar control results in worsening pocket depth, attachment loss, bone loss.  MAKE SURE YOUR DENTIST AND HYGIENIST CHECKS YOUR POCKET DEPTH EVERY TIME THEY SEE YOU.  They will use a small round ruler to measure all around the tooth.  Diabetes is the #1 condition that increases susceptibility to to gum disease and the #1 systemic condition adversely affected by gum disease is Diabetes.