Living With a Diabetic-friendly mouth
The human body is a complex machine, the kind of edibles you choose to consume and how often you intake them has a great possibility of affecting not just your physical health but also the health and hygiene of your enamels and gums majorly. Your mouth is nothing but a reflection of health and a healthy mouth is undeniably a pleasing sight to see. There is no doubt over the fact that an appropriate amount of nutrition is a significant module of overall health and well-being, but little were you aware that the kind of food choices you make can affect oral health in more ways than just averting cavity built-up.
The sugar bug has bitten you. You might be used to living a diabetic life, restricting yourself to sugary, fatty and greasy treats and embracing a healthy no-sugar diet. If you were always sure the disease could harm only your eyes, heart, nerves and kidney, you need to pause a bit shifting your attention to your mouth. Diabetes affects your oral hygiene and leads to severe gum disease and infection. This is because diabetics have a higher than usual risk of contracting periodontal maladies, thanks to their high level of glucose level. Diabetes and oral health go hand in hand and hence mastering the technique of using the power of good nutrition are mainly imperative for people with diabetes.
The most common hitches are periodontal disease, like gingivitis, periodontitis, oral candidiasis, built-up of cavities and dry mouth, inflammation in the mouth and diminished taste function to name a few. While a tight control of blood glucose is very vital, it is also equally important to keep a tap on your diet, thus eliminating toxic foods. Living a diabetic life and following a diabetic-friendly diet free from toxins does not always mean depriving, starving, or munching on tasteless and boring foods. However, some edibles are best when they are given a miss. It will be a wise decision for everyone either with diabetes or without to evade or limit these food intakes since these are high in calories, sugar, carbohydrates, and sodium also contain a high level of transfats. Along with upsetting oral health, a high level of sodium and saturated fat can cause heart disease, while an overload of sugar, high count of carbohydrates and additional calories can lead to weight gain and raise blood sugar levels.
For a diabetic to safeguard healthy dental hygiene, it is always advisable to avert the consumption of Tran’s fat which is found mainly in packaged products like chips and fast food. Also avoid hydrogenated oils found in fried edibles. Prefer baked foods over deep-fried edibles. If you think fries are almost out of your list, be rest assured you can have your fries and eat them too unless they are baked and not fried. Keep the ingestion of Trans fat as low as possible and switch over to a healthy diet that comprises plenty of green leafy vegetables, legumes, lentils, fenugreek, sprouts, pulses and fruits.
Diabetics must limit the number of snacks that they tend to munch in a day. As with other impediments of diabetes, tight blood glucose control is vital in the efficient prevention and regulation of oral problems, without missing on apposite oral hygiene and fixed dental visits.
The Wise Decisions – To head towards the road to a speedy recovery, you need to take dental care and diabetes seriously. In addition, below mentioned are some simple practices you need to bear in mind that will surely help protect against the development and progression of oral health complications for a diabetic.
· Make a pledge to control your diabetes – Screen your blood sugar level and try maintaining a steady level by consuming a balanced diet. Arrive at a target range. Once your blood sugar levels are under control, you don’t have to worry about gum inflammation.
· Brush your teeth two times a day. It is ideal to brush your teeth in the morning while going off to bed and after every meal consumed by you. Brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush and fluoride-containing toothpaste which will never irritate your gums. Flossing your teeth regularly helps remove stuck food particles, thus preventing cavities.
· No more toxic foods: Your blood sugar levels will be brought under control only if you distance yourself from sugary treats and other food toxins like processed, packaged and fried foods. A healthy diet will not just impact your body physically but will also help to defend your teeth against several toxins.
· Regular dental visits. Make it a point to get your enamels for professional cleanings and check-ups and remind him about your diabetic condition. This will help him to manage his diabetes with appropriate dental care.
· Refrain from smoking: Smoking and intake of tobacco upsurge the risk of grave diabetes complications, including gum ailments.
As you can see, eating for oral health for a diabetic is not so different from the eating habits of a non-diabetic. Replenish your diet with plenty of colourful fruits, whole grains, veggies and low-fat proteins. Eat on scheduled meals at regular intervals, consider dodging concentrated sweets, and make all possible efforts to control blood glucose. Uniting nutrition with appropriate dental cleanness should keep a grin on your face and will certainly make your dental appointments a stress-free affair.
Dealing with diabetes is an enduring commitment that can be fulfilled without neglecting dental hygiene. Holistic dental care is all you need to keep diabetes at bay and your efforts will be rewarded with a lifetime of strong teeth and gums.