#6 Gum problems
By altering saliva, the fluid that maintains your mouth wet, diabetes can have an impact on your mouth. Saliva helps prevent dental decay by washing away food particles, slowing the growth of germs, and neutralizing the acids that bacteria create. Additionally, saliva contains minerals that protect oral tissues and prevent tooth decay.
The salivary glands within your mouth might produce less saliva due to diabetes and some diabetic medications. The likelihood of developing gum disease, dental problems, and other mouth issues rises when saliva production is reduced.
Additionally, diabetes might raise the level of glucose in your saliva. This glucose can feed dangerous bacteria, which in turn mix with food to build plaque, a soft, sticky coating that causes cavities. Plaque can accumulate on your teeth close to your gum line and harden into a coating known as tartar. If you don’t remove the tartar, it can lead to gum disease.
