Oral care for diabetic children

Blood sugar levels and dental health are related. Gum disease or a tooth infection may cause your child's blood sugar to increase. How should a child with diabetes care for their teeth?

You are obviously concerned about the potential health effects if your child is identified as having diabetes. Diabetes can be controlled with the right monitoring and care, but as you may already be aware, both types of diabetes can cause elevated blood glucose levels, which can cause problems like a weakened immune system, tissue inflammation, and possibly more bacteria in the body. All of this is bad for the general health, but you might not be aware that diabetes can also affect your child's oral health.

How specifically might diabetes influence your child's oral health? What can you do to prevent potential oral health issues? Here are a few things that every parent ought to be aware of when it comes to safeguarding the dental health of a child who has been diagnosed with diabetes.

Diabetes's impact on dental health

An increased prevalence of significant tooth decay and gum disease, including gingivitis and periodontitis, is the principal issue related to diabetes and oral health. There is evidence of this connection in both adults and children, according to comprehensive research. Gum disease is thought to affect roughly 22% of diabetic patients, and it affects children with diabetes significantly more frequently than it does non-diabetic peers.

Why? There are numerous potential causes. First of all, children with diabetes may not receive a diagnosis as soon as adults do, which could cause a delay in the onset of treatment for the symptoms. Additionally, it's likely that adults will take better care of their teeth than kids in general, and especially younger kids. There are additional problems to think about, such as xerostomia, or dry mouth.

If the mouth doesn't create enough saliva, bacteria can grow and infiltrate healthy tissue, as well as aggravate already present issues like infection and inflammation. Unfortunately, children are more likely to experience this symptom than adults. Dry mouth affects about 53% of teenagers with diabetes.

Additionally, children with diabetes may exhibit symptoms like sluggish wound healing, increased infection (both occurrence and severity), fungal infection, burning mouth syndrome, and more. It may be understandably tough for both kids and parents to deal with this, but it's crucial to maintain a kid's mouth healthy, especially if they have diabetes, and there are a number of things parents can do to help kids with oral health issues. 

The significance of preventive care

If your child has diabetes or gum disease, they will need to see a children's dentist more regularly (about every 3-4 months) than just every six months for routine dental examinations and cleanings. Aside from regular dental appointments, the following practices can help improve oral health and diabetes management:

·       For the purpose of removing harmful germs, bolstering tooth enamel, and preventing tooth decay, make sure your child brushes their teeth twice daily for two minutes with fluoride toothpaste.

·       Make sure they use an ADA-approved mouthwash and floss at least once each day.

·       They should receive a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet and limit their intake of sugar, which encourages the growth of bacteria. Include extra fruits and vegetables in your child's diet; even small dietary adjustments can have a large impact.

·       Constant monitoring of their blood sugar levels.

·       To avoid dehydration, stop dry mouth, and maintain healthy salivary gland function, make sure they're consuming enough water.

·       After giving your child a fast-acting carbohydrate, such as a hypoglycemia medication, rinse their mouth with water.

·       Your child can have diabetes and still retain good oral health. You can avoid gum disease by just discussing management strategies with the dentist and doctor.

Consider these points:

·       Gums that bleed when brushed, receding gums, and poor breath are all indications of gum disease. Maintaining proper dental hygiene can help to lower this risk.

·       High blood sugar levels or some drugs can produce dry mouth, which raises the risk of tooth decay. Saliva can help protect the teeth from dental decay. Water consumption can alleviate dry mouth.

·       Oral infections like thrush are more common in children with diabetes. White spots or mouth redness are symptoms.

Conclusion

The best method to prevent the uncomfortable mouth symptoms of diabetes is to maintain good dental hygiene. Make sure your youngster flosses once daily and uses a toothbrush for two minutes each time. Additionally, make sure they get enough water to be hydrated. This will aid in preventing plaque accumulation, dry mouth, and help them maintain high saliva levels.

According to research, addressing gum disease can assist people with diabetes in better control their blood sugar, which will help them manage the disease. A paediatric dentist will be able to assist your child in managing their dental health, fighting gum disease, and developing a treatment plan.