Smoking with Diabetes May Increase Oral Health Risk

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Person holding a cigarettes that they have broken in half.

Did you know that smoking with diabetes may lead to an increased risk for Type 2 diabetes? While more research needs to be done to establish an association, there’s a reason to believe that a family history of diabetes combined with a smoking habit can lead to this disease. What’s worse? Diabetics who smoke are at increased risk for several oral health issues, including:

  • Gum disease: If you are diabetic, chances of developing gum diseases are high. Smoking aggravates the issue by encouraging the development of oral plaque and leads to inflammation of the gums, cavities and tooth decay.
  • Dry mouth: Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to dry mouth as a result of decreased saliva. This makes the mouth susceptible to soreness, infections and mouth ulcers. Compounded with the tar and nicotine in tobacco that settle in the tooth cavities, it leads to bad breath and tooth decay.
  • Delayed healing: Diabetes comes in the way of the normal functioning of cell tissues and results in loss of blood clot, thus creating complications in healing processes after an oral surgery or treatment. Smoking also harms the body’s ability to repair damaged tissue by restricting blood supply and the flow of oxygen to the tissues. This leads to complications in the healing process and delayed healing.
  • Oral candidiasis: Also known as oral thrush, candidiasis is a yeast/fungal infection on the mucous membrane of the mouth that is influenced by factors such as diabetes or smoking. The appearance varies depending on the type of candidiasis but is most commonly characterized by white patches on the tongue resembling cottage cheese. There may be difficulty in eating or drinking, a burning sensation in the mouth and altered sense of taste.
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Leah Martinez
Leah Martinez serves as a social media analyst for Delta Dental of Arizona. In college at the University of New Mexico, Leah took the path of no return and majored in Chemistry with healthcare on her mind. After learning direct patient care was not her forte, she landed a job as the advertising manager at University of New Mexico's college newspaper “The Daily Lobo.” It was this job that turned her on to her skills in digital marketing. Since joining Delta Dental in 2012, Leah found her niche, as the constant education and learning in social media brings out the true geek in her. In her spare time, Leah enjoys snowboarding, snowmobiling and riding dirt bikes. (Did we mention she's based in Colorado?) [Editor's Note: Leah is no longer a current DD employee.]