Periodontal disease (gingivitis) and diabetes are locked in a grim partnership aimed at undermining your health, experts warn.
“Recent research has shown that diabetes is not only a significant risk factor for periodontitis, but that the relationship between the two conditions is bidirectional, meaning that they influence and exacerbate each other,” said Dr. Anton Sculean, president of in Periodontology at the University of Bern in Switzerland.
The relationship can even turn deadly over time: Moderate or severe cases of gingivitis have long been linked to increased odds of dying from heart disease or death from any cause, Sculean said. He is also the chair of EuroPerio11, the annual meeting of the European Federation of Periodontology (EFP).
Diabetes is now thought to affect more than 800 million people worldwide and occurs when the body either fails to produce enough insulin (the hormone that regulates blood sugar) or the body’s cells become less sensitive to the hormone.
In addition to its many other complications, diabetes triples the chances of serious gum disease, EFP said in a press release.
In fact, as a diabetic person loses control of their blood sugar levels, the severity of gum disease increases.
Why is that so? As Sculean and colleagues explained, poorly controlled blood sugar levels can weaken your immune system, which then finds it harder to fight periodontal infections.
Diabetes can also put the body in a pro-inflammatory state, further exacerbating damage to gum tissues.
These negative effects also work in the opposite direction: As periodontal disease worsens, it triggers a systemic inflammatory response that makes it even harder for cells to remain insulin-sensitive, EFP explained.
Severe gum disease can even be a kind of “tipping point,” pushing people into a diabetic state, experts said.
All of this creates a “vicious cycle” where gum disease and diabetes work together to wreak havoc on blood sugar levels.
On the other hand, treating gingivitis could help control diabetes.
According to the EFP statement, “This finding reinforces the need for dental professionals to work closely with other healthcare providers, ensuring patients receive comprehensive care that addresses both oral health and diabetes management.”
Currently, it is estimated that more than 1 billion people worldwide have severe periodontal disease, EFP reported.
“The EFP places great importance on addressing the relationship between diabetes and gingivitis, as it affects not only the oral health but the overall well-being of millions of people worldwide,” said Dr. Eduardo Montero, a specialist in dental surgery at the University. of Madrid in Spain.
“Awareness of the public, health professionals and policy makers is essential. We need to move towards more holistic health systems that recognize the bidirectional relationship between diabetes and periodontitis and integrate oral health into global health strategies.”
More information:
For more on gum disease, head to Cleveland Clinic.
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Reference: Gum Disease and Diabetes: A Strong Link (2024 November 14) Retrieved November 14, 2024 from
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