Oral Health & Diabetes
This is the second part in a two-part series.
Another type of health saboteur connected to diabetes and inflammation originates in your mouth.
Open Wide
What’s first — diabetes or inflammation? Oral inflammation, like that from periodontal or bacterial infection, decay under a crown or in a root canal, is an invisible health saboteur. Generalized inflammation erodes overall immune defenses, especially in those with insulin resistance or diabetes. If you have an inflammatory disorder, consider what’s going on in your mouth.
High blood sugar encourages bacterial growth in your mouth. If you experience the following, see a nutritionally aware biological dentist now:
• Dry mouth (not associated with other causes or medications)
• Bleeding gums when brushing or eating
• Loose or missing teeth
• Fungal infection (thrush)
• Puffy, sensitive gums or teeth
• Inflammatory disorder
• Compromised immunity
You Need to Know
According to Marc Penn, M.D., Ph.D. at the Cleveland Clinic, “Periodontal disease is now considered a medical disease.” Fifty-percent of heart attacks and strokes occur in people with normal cholesterol levels. The key contributor is now targeted at inflammation.
We’re finding that traditional periodontal therapy (teeth cleaning and deep scaling) is not enough. Often when inflammation or immune disorders are present, the health-depleting bacteria released during the cleaning or scaling goes rogue and enters the bloodstream through periodontal pockets and releases toxins. After this, our bodies trigger an inflammatory response to both. Have you ever felt increased symptoms or feel like you have the flu after teeth cleaning? Now you know why. My experience shows that the only way to succeed is to treat early, effectively, correct blood sugar imbalances and address the microbial burden. I use and recommend dental cleaning via laser because each area is sterilized before, during and after the treatment — reducing risk of infection and bacteria going into your blood system.
Oral biofilm is the largest cause of oral inflammation, and oral inflammation is the number one source of generalized inflammation in humans.
By addressing oral inflammation and periodontal disease, we can often lower A1c levels more effectively than medications in many diabetic patients. The A1c test measures what percentage of your hemoglobin — a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen — is coated with sugar.
HOT Facts
"Don't forget to look at periodontal disease as an important source of inflammation in cardiovascular disease — when walls of coronary vessels get hot, there’s a problem — heart attacks or strokes.” Marc Penn, M.D., Ph.D.
Your Body’s Firefighter
Consume more water! You must sufficiently hydrate to extinguish the fire of inflammation! It is recommended that you drink at least half your bodyweight in ounces (e.g., if you weigh 160 pounds, you need a minimum of 80 ounces of water daily). You count as water any tea that does not contain caffeine or drinks like lemonade or limeade if unsweetened or sweetened with a natural herb like Stevia.
Inflammation and diabetes are complex syndromes but all can be significantly improved or eliminated through personal dietary and lifestyle choices as well as wholistic lifestyle modifications.
Dr. Gilbѐre is Founder/CEO Institute for Wholistic Rejuvenation, an acclaimed author (18 books), syndicated talk-show host, creator of eight post-graduate courses and more than 1,700 health articles. She consults in Gig Harbor and worldwide via telephone and Skype. Visit: www.gloriagilbere.com or call 888.352.8175.
