Currently, the traditional way of checking blood sugar is to draw blood, usually from the fingertips. However, given the relation of dental health to diseases like diabetes, scientists looked into the possibility of blood sampling from periodontal inflammation. In other words, your Mt. Pleasant, SC dentist, Dr. Jeff Gardner, may soon conduct diabetes screening using blood originating from gum problems.
The link between gum disease and diabetes has been an interesting subject for many scientists and dentists. One study, published in the Journal of Periodontology, found that diabetics are more prone to develop gum problems than nondiabetic individuals. In an earlier study published in the same journal, treatment of periodontal infections helped people manage their diabetes more effectively. How does sugar become a catalyst for gum problems?
If you brush after every meal, sugar will not pose much of a threat to your teeth or gums. The real danger begins when you fail to observe proper oral hygiene regularly. Millions of bacteria residing in your mouth can turn the sugar into an acidic substance that inflicts a lot of damage to your teeth and gums. The more the substance stays in the teeth and gums, the worse the disease gets.
Researchers from New York University discovered that blood samples from gum inflammation can show doctors more about diabetes. The sampling focuses on the collection of a form of hemoglobin called “Hemoglobin A1C.” Diabetes screening commonly uses this hemoglobin to determine whether or not a person has diabetes, as well as the severity of the disease. The American Diabetes Association sets the safe zone at less than 7 percent.
Dr. Shiela Strauss, an associate professor in NYU, believes this could be a useful opportunity for all dentists, and make it easier for local Mt. Pleasant, SC dentists to conduct diabetes screenings. The onset of gum problems, when checked by Dr. Gardner, can give patients an early heads-up. They can be alerted to the growing problem and take the necessary steps to mitigate it before it effects them adversely. In this case, a visit to Dr. Jeff Gardner becomes the first defensive line in the fight against diabetes.
Of course, you can still enjoy sweet treats from time to time as long as you exercise moderation and proper oral hygiene. A visit to Dr. Jeff Gardner’s Mt. Pleasant, SC dental office can tell you what is wrong with your body and how you can deal with it. It is imperative that signs of diabetes are spotted as early as possible via a thorough gum diagnosis.