I’m a dentist – here’s the 6 red flag signs of diabetes that appear in your mouth
DIABETES is a serious condition that causes a person’s blood sugar levels to become dangerously high.
Typical symptoms of the disease include needing to pee more that usual and sudden weight loss.
One expert has said you can also spot the silent killer in your mouth.
Dr Rizwan Mahmood, a dentist from Ruh Dental, London, said regularly checking your mouth while brushing can help you catch diabetes early.
He said: “It’s wise to be aware of any changes in the mouth,”
“If you notice anything untoward, see your dentist or medical practitioner.”
The condition can often go undetected and can be hard to spot, as signs can be brushed off as something else.
Gum disease
Dr Rizwan said those with diabetes are at a higher risk of gum disease, medically know as periodontal disease, and for these patients it can be much more severe.
“This is inflammation in the gums and the bones around your teeth,” he said.
As easy way to spot this is to floss: if flossing between your teeth makes your bleed you could be suffering from periodontal disease.
Gum disease can also cause bad breath, otherwise known as halitosis and even tooth loss, he explained.
According to the British Society of Periodontology, gum disease affects around 55 per cent of people and not all of these have diabetes.
The condition can also be the result of not brushing correctly.
Gum disease is caused by a build-up of plaque on the teeth, the NHS says
If you do not remove plaque from your teeth by brushing and cleaning in between them regularly, it builds up and irritates your gums.
Dry mouth
Diabetes can cause a dry mouth because of a lack of saliva.
Saliva helps to control bacteria levels, and also balances and washes away acid around teeth and gums.
Having a dry mouth, otherwise known xerostomia, can lead to several oral issues, including ulceration and tooth decay, the expert explained.
He added: “You are also prone to developing oral thrush as it can impact the way your body fights off infections.
The 6 signs of diabetes that appear in your mouth
Peeing more than usual is a key sign, as is feeling tired and losing weight without trying. But according to Dr Rizwan there are 6 key signs in your mouth to watch out for.
- Bad breath
- Fruity breath
- Swollen and red gums
- Tooth decay and loss
- Ulcers
- Oral thrush
“This can put your gums at risk of inflammation because of the bacteria living in plaque.”
He said it was important to speak to GP if your dry mouth won’t go away.
Fruity breath
Having fruity smelling breath is another key sign of the disease.
The NHS describes the “fruity” breath as smelling like pear drop sweets, or nail varnish.
“This is known as diabetic ketoacidosis which is a dangerous and potentially life-threatening condition in which your blood sugar is so high it starts turning acidic,” the expert explained.
It can occasionally affect people who do not have diabetes, but usually only people who are seriously ill, such as those who have recently had a stroke or heart attack, or have a severe infection.
People with type 2 diabetes in particular are three times more likely to have problems with their oral health than those who don’t have the condition, dentist and clinical director at Bupa Dental Care, Dr Sarah Ramage, previously told The Sun.
There are a record five million people thought to have type 1 or type 2 diabetes in the UK – and of these 850,000 don’t know they have it.
Type 1 diabetes means the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin.
Type 2 is when the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body’s cells do not react to insulin.
Untreated, unregulated diabetes can lead to long-term complications, such as heart disease, kidney damage, vision loss or even death.
How to look after your teeth
It's important to keep your teeth and mouth clean.
Every day, a thin layer of bacteria, known as plaque, builds on your teeth.
The bacteria in plaque produce acids that break down and damage your teeth.
Brushing and flossing can prevent plaque build up and decay.
Here’s how you and your children can have healthy teeth and keep trips to the dentist to a minimum according to the NHS:
- Brush your teeth twice a day
- Use fluoride toothpaste
- Floss between your teeth
- Cut down on sugar
- Brush baby teeth as soon as they come through
- Get children into a teeth-cleaning routine
- Straighten crooked teeth with braces
- Have regular dental check-ups