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Fast facts about dental care and diabetes

When you’re living with diabetes, you have to be extra careful of your teeth. We’ve written about gum disease and diabetes (this study found a direct link) but we wanted to share some helpful, practical tips. We found them with Accu-Chek – take a look at the full pamphlet here.

Dental care and diabetes

High blood sugar can lead to problems with your teeth and gums. The number one tip is to try to keep your blood glucose levels within range by monitoring your glucose often and following doctor’s instructions. 

Here are some more helpful tips for dental care and diabetes:  

  • Brush your teeth at least twice a day.

  • Replace your toothbrush every 3 months.

  • Avoid vigorous, hard brushing or scrubbing.

  • Floss once a day to remove plaque between your teeth and under your gum line.

  • Schedule regular dentist visits – you should go to the dentist at least twice a year for professional cleaning and check-ups.

  • Avoid smoking. 

  • Look for early signs of gum disease: redness, swelling, bleeding gums, dry mouth, loose teeth or mouth pain. Report this to your dentist immediately!

  • Make sure your doctor knows you have diabetes.

Download more information about dental care and diabetes from Accu-Chek here.

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Sweet Life is a registered NPO/PBO (220-984) with a single goal: to improve diabetes in South Africa. We are funded by sponsorships and donations from aligned companies and organisations who believe in our work. We only share information that we believe benefits our community. While some of this information is linked to specific brands, it is not an official endorsement of that brand. We believe in empowering people with diabetes to make the best decisions they can, to live a healthy, happy life with diabetes.