The relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes
If you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop periodontal disease.
If you have periodontal disease, your diabetes will not improve.
This has been said for a long time. It's a chicken-or-egg debate, but the fact is that diabetes and periodontal disease are closely related.
Diabetes → Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease → diabetes
We have summarized the process for each step.
Diabetes → Periodontal disease
- Have diabetes
- When you have diabetes, your blood becomes hyperglycemic
- High blood sugar reduces saliva production
- Decreased saliva production leads to dry mouth
- Dry mouth reduces the function of white blood cells
- When white blood cell function declines, periodontal disease bacteria proliferate.
- Get periodontal disease
As a result of these factors, diabetics are at increased risk for periodontal disease.
If you neglect your oral care at this time and your mouth becomes unclean, you can easilyGingivitisIf left untreated, it can easily develop into severe periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease → diabetes
- Have periodontal disease
- When you have periodontal disease, your body produces large amounts of inflammatory substances (TNFα).
- When inflammatory substances increase, the action of insulin (a hormone that stabilizes blood sugar levels) is suppressed.
- The decreased action of insulin leads to poorer blood sugar control
- Poor blood sugar control leads to hyperglycemia
- Develop diabetes
Through the above process, chronic periodontal disease develops into a state of hyperglycemia. Conversely, through the same process, it is known that treating periodontal disease improves blood sugar control and blood sugar levels.
Bonus 1: Basic knowledge about diabetes
There are two types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.
What is Type 1 Diabetes?
This occurs when insulin (a hormone that stabilizes blood sugar levels) is not secreted congenitally. By taking good care of your mouth, you can reduce the risk of periodontal disease.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
Lifestyle habits weaken the action of insulin, making it difficult to control blood sugar and resulting in hyperglycemia. Obesity mainly causes fat cells to secrete substances that interfere with insulin. In addition to taking care of your mouth, you should also start by improving your lifestyle to reduce the risk of periodontal disease.
Bonus 2: The flow of obesity → diabetes → periodontal disease
If we summarize the trends we have explained so far, the trend from obesity to periodontal disease becomes clear. Obesity may be the root cause of all diseases.
- Being obese
- Fat cells secrete substances that interfere with the production of insulin, a hormone that stabilizes blood sugar levels.
- The weaker the insulin action, the harder it is to control blood sugar
- When blood sugar control becomes difficult, hyperglycemia occurs.
- High blood sugar reduces saliva production
- Decreased saliva production leads to dry mouth
- Dry mouth reduces the function of white blood cells
- When white blood cell function declines, periodontal disease bacteria proliferate.
- Get periodontal disease
Summary
Thus, there is a close relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes. In fact, people with type 2 diabetes and severe periodontal disease have seen their blood sugar levels improve after treating their periodontal disease.
Both periodontal disease and diabetes are lifestyle-related diseases. They are serious, life-threatening diseases, and many people are at risk. Learn about the causes and relationships of each disease, and take preventative measures.