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Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes are particularly affected by periodontal disease: they have a 3-fold higher risk of periodontitis and more teeth, while aggravating blood glucose levels due to gum disease. The German Diabetes Society (DDG) therefore advises all diabetic patients for complete oral hygiene and regular dental examinations. In addition, it is important to pay attention to adjusting the blood glucose to reduce the risk of periodontitis.
Periodontitis is the most common chronic disease in the world. The main trigger of inflammation of the periodontium is bacterial plaque. This leads to superficial inflammation of the gums – gingivitis – which, if left untreated, can spread to periodontitis. "Besides the lack of oral hygiene, smoking, stress and genetic factors are the causes of this chronic inflammation," says Professor DD Dr. Dr. med. med. Dirk Müller-Wieland. Another major risk factor is diabetes mellitus.
"If the blood sugar level of the diabetic patient is poorly adjusted, the risk of periodontal disease increases sharply," says Müller-Wieland. "In addition, the treatment of the gums is more complicated, the course of the disease is more serious and the loss of teeth more common." Conversely, periodontitis aggravates the control of blood glucose – the depth of periodontal pockets also increases long-term blood sugar. Studies have shown that the mortality of periodontal diabetic patients is higher than in people with healthy gums. The reason for this is inflammation, which among other things has a negative effect on the heart.
The difficult part of the disease: Periodontitis rarely causes pain. "It is important, therefore, be sure to pay attention to the first warning signs such as bleeding gums, swollen gums, bad breath, changing the position of the teeth or longer and loose teeth" , says DDG Priv expert Dr. Doz, MD Erhard Siegel, DDG also recommends regular dental checkups to avoid any risk.
At the beginning of the dental examination, the doctor already identifies and is able to treat early forms of periodontal disease using the Periodontal Screening Index (PSI). "Diabetics, in particular, should consult the dentist at least once a year," recommends Siegel. abstaining from smoking, having a balanced diet and avoiding obesity and stress can further reduce the risk of periodontitis.For a first assessment of the extent of your risk of periodontitis, the German Society Parodontology (DG Paro) provides a self-test online.
"Diabetologists, family doctors and dentists should also be more and more aware of this," says Müller-Wieland. "In Germany, about two million people do not know that they have diabetes and are therefore at increased risk of periodontitis." All participating specialists are expected to bring more education and prevention into their practices. . "For example, screening measures like the diabetes test in dental practices or the inclusion of dental status in the family's medical history could lead to better prevention of periodontitis," suggests Siegel
. a new guideline from the AWMF "Diabetes and Periodontitis". It is intended to provide important information on the interaction between the two diseases and to provide specific recommendations for care and early detection.
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