Your dentist may be able to spot more than cavities when he/she looks in your mouth. Severe gum disease, new research finds, may be an early warning sign for diabetes. That’s important because diabetes often has mild symptoms that many people don’t recognize.
Background: Early diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is key to controlling high blood sugar and high insulin levels before they damage the heart, lead to nerve pain, impair vision and do other damage. Yet an estimated 25% of the nearly 30 million Americans who have diabetes don’t know it.
It’s well-known that people with diabetes are prone to more gum disease, but the incidence of diabetes (and its precursor, prediabetes) in people with gum disease isn’t well-studied. The concern isn’t primarily about the mild first stage of gum disease called gingivitis (or “pink toothbrush syndrome” because it can result in mild bleeding when brushing) but rather the next stage, periodontitis. Periodontitis happens when bacteria grow into the pockets between the gums and the teeth, causing bleeding and creating plaque and acids that break down the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. Periodontitis can be mild, moderate or severe.
Study: In this observational study, 313 predominantly middle-aged patients treated at a university dental clinic were checked for periodontitis, and their blood sugar levels were measured. None of them had been previously diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes. In the study group, 126 people had mild or moderate periodontitis and 78 had severe periodontitis.
Results: Among those with severe gum disease, 18% were found to have full-blown type 2 diabetes. The results confirm that severe periodontitis could be a sign of undiagnosed diabetes. The study’s authors concluded that it’s feasible for dentists and periodontists to screen for diabetes, focusing on those with the most severe gum disease.
Surprising finding: Periodontitis, even if it’s mild or moderate, was associated with increased risk for prediabetes—elevated blood sugar that greatly increases the risk of developing diabetes. In the study, nearly half of the patients with periodontitis at any stage had blood sugar levels indicating prediabetes.
Bottom line: If you are seeing a periodontist for gum disease or your dentist sees gum inflammation, ask your primary care doctor to test your blood sugar. A simple finger-stick test can tell whether you have the disease. Sometimes simple lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise and adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet can help keep diabetes at bay. If you do have prediabetes or diabetes, controlling your blood sugar will also help you fight gum disease—and prevent tooth loss.
Bonus: Treating gum disease early may help you ward off other diseases including heart disease and stroke. To learn more, see Bottom Line’s article, “Don’t Let Gum Disease Kill You.”
