High blood sugar doesn’t just affect your heart, kidneys, and eyes—it may also affect your teeth.
Researchers found that when blood sugar stays high (as in diabetes and similar conditions), more sugar can move from the bloodstream into saliva. That matters because saliva constantly bathes the teeth—so extra glucose and fructose in the mouth can help feed bacteria that form plaque and trigger tooth decay.
In their study, the team led by 3 compared diabetic and non-diabetic participants and analyzed freshly secreted saliva from salivary glands. The results showed a clear pattern: higher blood sugar was linked with more sugar transfer into saliva, and with more tooth decay and dental plaque. When they examined dental plaque, they also saw a shift in the mouth’s bacterial balance—more cavity-causing bacteria, fewer bacteria associated with healthier oral conditions—making the oral environment more likely to break down sugar and produce acid (which speeds up tooth decay).
The encouraging takeaway: when diabetic patients were hospitalized and their blood sugar became controlled, the sugar levels in saliva dropped and the bacterial balance improved—even without dental treatment. This suggests that better blood sugar management may directly support better oral health.
Quick reminder: If you’re managing diabetes (or prediabetes), oral care matters even more—because what happens in your blood can show up in your mouth.Short caption option
#DiabetesCare #OralHealth #DentalHealth #SugarControl #HealthyLiving
