Diabetes Dental Care at Home: Tips for a Healthy Mouth

Continued high blood glucose levels leads to a greater incidence of dental disease. Dental disease in turn can lead bone decay in the mouth, tooth loss, and even to coronary problems such as stroke and heart attack. Thus diabetes dental care at home is particularly important.

Brush your teeth after every meal. Many people brush first thing in the morning and then again before bed. However, brushing immediately after every meal or snack will help to remove plaque before it has a chance to form. Use a soft-bristled brush to avoid damaging your gums.
Learn to brush properly. It may sound silly, since brushing our teeth is something we've done since we were kids, but sometimes a quick demonstration from your dentist can be helpful.
Brush your tongue, too. The tongue traps bacteria and should also be cleaned.
Use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride helps to protect the tooth and prevent it from decaying.
Keep your mouth moist. Drink water if your mouth feels dry. Avoid alcohol-based mouthwash, which also dries out the mouth.
Tell your dentist that you have diabetes. This is important for your dentist to know, since wounds have a tendency to heal slower in diabetics. Even a simple cleaning can result in minor tissue damage. It's even more important when you need dental surgery or major procedure.
Get regular cleanings at the dentist. Every six months is often the "standard", but your dentist may recommend that you go more often.
Replace your toothbrush every 3 months. Toothbrushes get out-of-shape and collect bacteria the more they're used. A new toothbrush is more effective.
Don't smoke. Smoking increases the risk of dental disease.
Keep your blood sugar under control. Good diabetes dental care at home can help to prevent many problems, but blood glucose levels must be well-managed to lower the risk of developing dental problems. Diabetics whose blood sugar is under control are not at any greater risk than the general population for dental disease. A complete diabetes treatment plan will help you to manage blood sugar levels.