Diabetes Standards of Care and Resources for Clinicians and Educators

Periodontal disease can result in the loss of some or all teeth in people with diabetes. People without teeth can suffer emotionally and nutritionally because they may not be able to eat many important types of foods. Every attempt should be made to replace missing teeth with dental prosthetics when there is significant loss of chewing function.

Periodontitis can negatively affect diabetes control and development of diabetes complications. The infection and inflammation associated with periodontitis can aggravate blood glucose control and increase risk for many of the complications of diabetes such as cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease.

In addition to periodontal disease, other oral health issues observed in people with diabetes include: dental caries, burning mouth syndrome and potential difficulty in wearing dental prosthetics, salivary gland dysfunction/dry mouth, fungal infections, lichen planus and lichenoid reactions, delayed healing, and taste disorders.