Disclaimer: This is sponsored content. All opinions and views are of Guerra Dentaland does not reflect the same of KOAA.
In this Your Healthy Family we’re following up on a story we brought you last week about the connection between oral health and psoriasis.
For years Dr. Fred Guerra, DMD with Guerra Dental in Colorado Springs has been telling me frequently sees a connection between good oral hygiene and overall health.
Dr. Guerra says it’s not uncommon for there to be a connection between periodontal disease and diabetes. “There has been speculation and recent evidence of the last 10 years, that gum disease and diabetes go hand-in-hand. Usually, when we see patients with well-controlled diabetes, their HbA1c levels are normal and they're doing what they need to do from periodontal or gum maintenance standpoint and keeping their gum tissues in very good condition.”
Dr. Guerra says there are many factors that can lead to periodontal disease, which can then feed back into your overall health. “When you add in components like some autoimmune diseases or high-stress levels or not getting enough sleep. All these other cofactors can bring their HbA1c levels and their blood glucose level out of control. Because of those reasons, they may not be taking care of themselves and possibly developing some problems from a periodontal standpoint.”
There are a few warning signs that periodontal disease is setting in that you should be on the lookout for says Dr. Guerra. “Usually that person is presenting and they might say I have bad breath I have some bleeding gums, I have some puffiness I'm getting a bad taste in my mouth and their relay this to the dental hygienist and it may or may not be related to a diabetic condition but it's the first warning signs to the patient you know when they brush are they getting some bleeding when they when they spit out and sink and those are the key signs that patients.”
If you have questions make sure to follow up with your dentist.
Guerra Dentalis a proud sponsor of Your Healthy Family
