This oral health facts post is sponsored by Colgate Total, the American Diabetes Association, and the Mom It Forward Blogger Network. All thoughts and words are my own.
I’ve mentioned before that Ashley is a Type 1 diabetic. When someone you love lives with a disease like diabetes, you tend to worry. And even after all these years of managing it, it’s not always easy for her to keep her sugars regulated.
There are so many factors that go into keeping blood sugars balanced. What she eats, how much she sleeps, if she goes for a run – all of those can send numbers up or down. And those are just the things she has some control over. If she happens to get sick – something she really can’t plan for – then it can get a little scary. In the last few years, there have been at least 2-3 trips to the emergency room each year that I can remember.
But did you know that according to the CDC people with diabetes are also two times more likely to develop gum disease? I’ll be honest, it’s not one of the first things that popped into mind. Fortunately, Colgate Total and the American Diabetes Association have launched a new campaign called “Watch Your Mouth!” to help raise awareness surrounding the often-overlooked link between oral health and diabetes.
Early Gum Disease Prevention
To help prevent gum disease there are a couple of early steps we can take.
- Make sure you visit your dentist: While your doctor and certified diabetes educator play an important role in helping with your diabetes, so does your dentist.
- Follow healthy habits at home: Research shows that brushing twice a day with Colgate Total toothpaste can help improve gum health in as little as four weeks.
For additional oral health facts, and tips you can visit OralHealthAndDiabetes.com. There is a ton of useful information there shared by a variety of experts. For example, I learned that diabetes is associated with low saliva production and that soft toothbrushes are recommended for diabetics.
In the last few years even though my father and father-in-law have maintained healthy lifestyles and weights, both have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I think I will be tucking a few extra toothbrushes and tubes of Colgate Total toothpaste into everyone’s stockings at Christmas, just to be safe.
What oral health facts or tips did you learn by visiting the website?
About Liza
Liza is a mom (5-year-old daughter, 20-year-old stepson, and 24-year-old stepdaughter) and wife living in Louisville. She loves spending time with her family, visiting the local zoo and parks, as well as planning travel adventures. Cooking and baking, DIY projects and crafts, and coffee - lots and lots of coffee - round out some of her other hobbies.
Wow! I had no idea that gum health had any relationship with diabetes. I have a few people in my family who are affected by diabetes. I wonder if they are aware of this information, and I sure will present it to them. Its important to me to be supportive of them.
Thanks! Great info! I will pass it along to my mom who has Diabetes!
I didn’t know there was any correlation with diabetes. This is useful information.
I didn’t realize gum disease was a high possibility for people with diabetes. I have to share this with a friend of ours. Thank you!
It’s amazing how much the mouth can tell us! diabetes, heart disease! It’s so important to keep a clean mouth!