No medical cure for Hypoglycaemia talk – Part 2 – The mouth

Hypoglycaemia Society public lecture, Kogarah Library, 17th August 2013

The mouth

You need three factors for decay to occur – the right type of bacteria, the right food for the bacteria, and a susceptible tooth.

• Poor cleaning of the teeth cause bacteria to build up.
• High sugar diet favours bacteria that release lactic acid.
• High caffeine or nicotine or high energy drinks (they contain high amounts of caffeine, sugar and acids) dry the mouth out making the teeth susceptible.

Gum disease is the loss of attachment of the tooth to the bone due to bacteria and is modified by the body’s immune response.

• Poor cleaning and lack of professional cleaning lead to a build-up of bacteria on the tooth and the root. If the build-up remains for 2 days or more the bacteria concentrate calcium from the saliva and harden to form calculus. This in turn kills the bacteria but a hardened mass forms that hides more aggressive bacteria and makes it difficult to clean.
• With a dry mouth this reduces the immune capacity of salivary antibodies (IgA).
• Poor control of glucose makes the white blood cells less effective in controlling bacteria.

The loss of bone and the progression of the bacteria is not controlled by the body and extensive loss of bone, and eventually teeth, occurs. These are warning signs of uncontrolled type II diabetes.

The jaw joint can be affected by excessive grinding. This can lead to muscle stiffness, uncomfortable chewing, headaches, difficulty in opening the mouth and soreness in the joint itself. An occlusal splint is a removable hard acrylic bite platform that is custom made to fit usually on the upper teeth. This provides an ideal bite and protects the teeth. It is usually worn at night. Most grinding occurs when we sleep. During the day we are talking, eating so there is less time of contact. However in some people they wear it during stressful times such as one patient driving to work.

http://www.seymourdental.com.au/2012/11/19/hypoglycemia-and-diet-and-the-mouth/

Prevention

Control diet, proper cleaning methods, and regular check-ups and cleans by the dentist- usually every six months. Poor oral hygiene has been shown to worsen heart disease and diabetes. Obviously a good quality of life is what we seek!

Next week: Implant item numbers