Dental hygienists help in detecting diabetes

Dental hygienists do not only help you keep your teeth healthy; they can also help detect diabetes, according to a recent study on the “Connection between Gum Disease and Diabetes.”

Seventh Day Adventist Dental Clinic resident dentist and hygienist Lori DeMaine said recent studies have found a link between gum disease and diabetes, with signs of the disease often appearing in the mouth.

“Diabetic patients have a greater chance of developing infections generally,” DeMaine said.

She said 95 percent of diabetics have developed some form of gum infection. It has been found that severe gum disease may increase the risk of developing diabetes, and may make it more difficult to manage blood sugar levels, she added.

There is good news, though, for patients who receive treatment for gum disease, as their condition could be controlled with less insulin, she said.

DeMaine said dental hygienists can now notice signs of diabetes during routine oral health exams. She said foamy saliva and usually a dry mouth are common signs of diabetes. Diabetic patients often lose more teeth compared to patients without the condition.

Diabetes is an illness in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin, which is needed by the body to convert sugar and other food “that we eat into energy to carry us throughout the day.”

She said being overweight and not exercising also contribute to the risk of developing diabetes, though the cause of diabetes remains a mystery.

Recent studies by the American Diabetes Association showed that about 18 million people in the United States have diabetes. An estimated 13 million are aware of the condition; however 5.2 million people have no idea that they have this disease, she said. In the United States alone 200,000 die every year due to diabetes.

“Here on Saipan, diabetes is a big problem and concern, with a large portion of the population living with diabetes. Of more concern are a number of people who are unaware that they too are suffering from diabetes.”

According to the American Diabetes Association, diabetes that goes unchecked or untreated can result in serious and life-threatening complications, such as blindness, kidney disease, heart disease and stroke, and nerve disease that lead to limb amputation.

DeMaine said October is National Dental Hygiene Month.

“If you have not seen your dental hygienist this year yet, make an appointment soon,” she said.

Dental hygienists inform patients about proper oral hygiene and treat gum disease to prevent the condition from advancing and complicating other diseases, she said. Dental hygienist, she said, also helps patients understand the connection between oral health care and overall health.

For more information on diabetes, check out the website at www.diabetes.org.