Although anyone can get gum disease, it is estimated that people with diabetes can be up to approximately three times more likely to develop the condition than people without diabetes.
To help reduce the risk of dental problems, the British Dental Association offers the following tips:
- Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste – use a pea-sized blob of toothpaste and brush your teeth using small, circular movements. Use a toothbrush with a small head so you can move it around your mouth better, and don’t forget the hard-to-reach teeth at the back and along the gum line. The bristles should be soft or medium so you run less risk of brushing too hard. An electric toothbrush can be useful, especially for children or if you have limited movement, but you can achieve a similar result with a regular toothbrush if you brush properly.
- Floss your teeth at least once a day – measure an arm’s length of floss (approximately 18in) and wind each end around your middle fingers, leaving 1–2in free. Grasp the floss with your index finger and thumb, pulling it tight, and gently slide it up and down against the tooth surface and under the gum line. Use a circular movement rather than a sawing one, as this will help you get underneath the gum line without cutting your gums. When you move on to the next tooth, unwind the floss from your fingers and rewind to expose a fresh piece. Make sure you floss between every tooth. If you find holding the floss difficult, you can buy ‘flossers’ from pharmacies, which hold the floss for you.
- Consider using a mouthwash – some dentists recommend these as they can help get rid of the last bits of food and bacteria.
- If you wear dentures: clean them when you take them out each night with a soft- to medium-bristle Tooth brush. You can also soak them using a special solution or tablets, but this doesn’t take the place of cleaning.
Back to dental health