My teeth were starting to deteriorate, and I was running out of options to repair them. The dentist gave me a choice. I could wait until the bone loss was so bad that I would have to have my teeth removed and get dentures, or I could have them removed now and get dental implants. I opted for the implants. If you’re thinking of getting dental implants, you probably have a lot of questions. I love mine, but they took some getting used to. In this blog, I’m sharing my experience and all the information that I picked up throughout my implant experience. You can find out what the procedure entails, how to prepare for your implants, and how to care for them once they’re in.
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Diabetes affects most every system and organ in your body, from your heart to your digestive tract. One symptom of diabetes that is often overlooked is the way it affects the mouth. In many patients, diabetes leads to dry mouth, which in turn leads to an increased risk of cavities and gum disease. If you're a diabetic and your mouth often feels dry, it's important not to ignore this issue. Here are some tips for dealing with it.
Make sure your blood sugar is being closely regulated.
Keeping your blood sugar in check should minimize all of your diabetes symptoms, including dry mouth. If you are noticing dry mouth, it could be a sign that you're not regulating your blood sugar as closely as you should. Make sure you're taking your readings as recommended by your doctor, and that if your readings are frequently high, talk to your doctor about changing your diet or medication protocol to get them back in check.
Of course, if you are keeping your blood sugar levels under control and you're still suffering from dry mouth, there are other things you can do to address this condition:
Chew sugar free gum.
Patients with mild dry mouth often find that chewing on sugar-free gum throughout the day helps stimulate the flow of saliva. If you're not a fan of gum, sucking on some sugar-free candies works, too.
Stop using alcohol-based mouthwashes.
Though these are quite common and are good at killing oral bacteria, they are also drying. Shop for a non alcohol-based mouthwash. If you cannot find one that carries the ADA seal, ask your dentist to recommend or prescribe one. There are even washes made specifically for patients with dry mouth. These will not only kill oral bacteria, but will also boost saliva production with a special added ingredient.
Talk to your dentist about medication.
In some cases, switching mouthwashes and chewing gum may not be enough to keep your mouth moist. If you're really struggling with severe dry mouth, your dentist may recommend an oral medication to boost saliva production. While taking a medication to treat this issue may sound extreme, it is often quite necessary since prolonged dry mouth can lead to extensive tooth decay.
If you're a diabetic suffering from dry mouth, do not just ignore the issue. Often, this problem is related to your diabetes, and by following the tips above, you can get it sorted out before it leads to more severe dental issues.
To learn more, contact a general dentist like Marc E. Segal, D.D.S.
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