Oral Health Program
Oral Health Spotlight
Description
November 2021 Spotlight
November is National Diabetes Month and it’s during this month that the Oral Health Program (OHP) would like to bring awareness around the mouth and body connection. People with diabetes are at greater risk of having periodontal (gum) disease, an infection of the gum and bone that hold the teeth in place. Periodontal disease can lead to pain, chewing problems, bad breath that doesn’t go away, and even tooth loss. And because diabetes may weaken your immune system (the body’s defense against infection), it may also slow down healing, so it can interfere with the treatment of periodontal disease. So if you have diabetes, we encourage you to take the following steps to keep your mouth healthy:
- Control your blood glucose.
- Brush twice a day, every day for two whole minutes and floss regularly.
- Visit a dentist regularly for checkups. Be sure to tell the dentist that you have diabetes.
- Tell the dentist if your dentures (false teeth) do not fit right, or if your gums are sore.
- Quit smoking. Smoking makes gum disease worse.
- Check your mouth regularly for any problems.
For more information, click the following links:
October Spotlight
September Spotlight
August Spotlight
July Spotlight
June Spotlight
May Spotlight
April Spotlight
March Spotlight
February Spotlight