Samantha Walsh
Samantha Walsh has lived with type 1 diabetes for over five years since 2017. After her T1D diagnosis, she was eager to give back to the diabetes community. She is the Community and Partner Manager for T1D Exchange and helps to manage the Online Community and recruit for the T1D Exchange Registry. Prior to T1D Exchange, Samantha fundraised at Joslin Diabetes Center. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a Bachelors degree in sociology and early childhood education.
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Has living with diabetes adversely affected your dental health? Cancel reply
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Eating a low carb diet makes managing blood glucose much easier and significantly improves dental health.
CGM’s weren’t yet made so playing soccer I made your my blood sugar tester was in my bag for halftime use. A few peeled ripe oranges in a plastic container were also in my in my bag for quick snack when needed.
Kind of a hassle for a 17 year old but better than the alternative.
It didn’t prevent me from making varsity!
I think diabetes has been okay on my teeth although I have had other conditions that have had adverse effects on my dental health that were present well before T1D.
I honestly have no idea if diabetes has affected my dental health one way or another. I have always taken care of my teeth, brushing 2 or 3 times a day, flossing, and sometimes waterpik. But, I’ve had dental issues with softening teeth, sensitive teeth and the need for crowns. I once read an article that said, Celiac disease causes softening of teeth. I do have Celiac disease. But, honestly, no dentist or doctor has ever mentioned anything about diabetes or Celiac disease affecting my teeth. They just keep telling me to keep doing what I am doing. There appears to be a lack of information on this subject matter.
My dentist explained to me years ago that having diabetes can cause more bacteria in the mouth. I use a special mouth wash and brush often!
I’m not 100% sure that it was diabetes that has adversely affected my dental health, but I did have to have one tooth surgically removed as I couldn’t bite down on something as soft as toast. I developed an infection in my gum after the tooth was removed, but that MAY have already been developing prior to its removal.
Since that time, some 15 years ago, I often notice blood when brushing my teeth, but that MAY be more to do with me being unaware of just how much pressure I’m exerting on my teeth/gums due to having peripheral neuropathy in my fingers/hands.
I’ve had T1D for almost 40 years and have never had dental issues. I am diligent about brushing, flossing, and dental visits twice a year.
I have been a type 1 diabetic for 84 years and I have had many problems with my teeth even though I brushed properly every day. Several root canals, many fillings for cavities, and three extractions in 2023. A bridge costing $7000+ is necessary to cover the gap created by the extractions.
I think my dental problems are at least partially caused by diabetes.
I said other because I’ve had gum issues since I was a teenager. I didn’t have a cavity until I was in my 40’s; then during chemotherapy and radiation it just went downhill fast. I was told my gum issues were related to T1D .
Gingivitis, which may or may not have been exacerbated by diabetes
I answered yes because I learned that my gum health was affected due to the exchange of potassium when you go low. potassium is so, so important for healthy gums and veins. I load up to have upto 3,000 mgs a day and my gum and dental health has improved 100%.
Yes – even with practice of good dental hygiene self-care. Over the years I have issues with gingivitis and gum tissue inflammation, cavities in my molars and have endured two root canals to remove decaying teeth and to clean out infected gums. I was told long duration T!D is often a factor in inflammatory gum disease. Now I see a dental hygienist faithfully twice a year for the past 20 years. However, in my some of my young and mid-adult years, I wasn’t always so disciplined with my dental health … mostly because I moved around a lot through various self-employed jobs and often didn’t have regular dental insurance. I still have many of my original teeth, but have crowns on 6 molars.
Over the very many years of Type 1 diabetes, I used candy as a method for treating low blood sugars as recommended by my pediatrician. He said I should keep Lifesavor candy with me at all times. Especially in the 60’s and 70’s before liquid glucose treatments were developed. Often this happened at times I could not immediately brush my teeth, i.e., away from home at school, at work, as a child during the night just trying to go back to sleep. I have spent thousands on dental care and I believe the sugar in treating lows without immediate brushing afterwards contributed to a lot of the cost.
I have had receding gums that needed grafts plus Multiple root canals.
It’s hard to tell it it is diabetes or that my parents had poor teeth too.
Me too!
Yes! My teeth started breaking off and cracking right before my diagnosis. I have many root canals and caps!
50 years ago, before I was diagnosed with T1, my dentist asked if I had diabetes because of my teeth and gums. more recently, my oral health seems directly correlated to my time in range.
I believe I inherited terrible teeth from my mother. Every molar in my mouth has a filling, a root canal and crown, or has been replaced by an implant. However, all of this happened before I was diagnosed with diabetes in my early 30’s. Now I get compliments from my dental hygienist after every visit.
Yes! Past childhood, when my parents paid the bills, I have often lacked the financial reserves to pay for dental care. When I was able to have scheduled care I needed several crowns and extractions. For the past decade, increasing issues with gum disease have left me with a mouth filled with decaying teeth. When I was able to get dental services I was told that there was a strong connection with gum disease and T1D. In 2019 I participated in a clinical study as a Joslin Medalist regarding that connection.
Did u ever hear back the results of the study?
Diagnosed with T1D in Dec 1951. The only available home testing was using urine. I’m certain the elevated BG levels contributed to dental problems.
Not yet, but worry about it. Especially treating overnight lows without brushing.
Not as much as grinding my teeth has.
And that grinding our teeth… THAT is caused by our D directly, just sayin >;~ )
I am not sure whether night-time dry mouth is more attributable to age or diabetes or some combination of both.
Knocked out a tooth during a seizure. Also knocked front tooth out of place.
Yes it caused a bad infection in my mouth that I had to get all my teeth removed. I remember having bad sores than the infection spread according to my dentist from the diabetes.
Yes, unfortunately, after about 30 years of T1D, I began experiencing progressive gum disease and bone loss requiring extensive surgeries, bone grafts and now dental implants. Now at fifty years, I routinely need dental work costing thousands of dollars over and above insurance coverage. Dental care particularly home care for diabetics is critical as well as 90 cleanings by a hygienist needs to be an element of every care plan. In hindsight, I wish my caregivers recognized this complication and recommended preventative treatments. Similarly, I wish insurance companies provided coverage for more frequent cleanings and other treatments.
My teeth are horribly yellow because of the sugar leaching out through them. It’s affected my self confidence immensely
Yes, I lost bone tissue and have several implants.
I put Other because my answer is probably. I suspect it did years ago before fast acting insulin and pumps. No one ever said anything about a connection between diabetes and dental health in the past. I have had 5 root canals in my lifetime, so obviously that’s a possibility. But since getting on a pump and CGM, I have had no problems. Also, these days, I floss constantly during the day, so that helps, too. I carry around flossers everywhere I go.
Yes it has. Coupled with lack of instruction and no access to dental treatment until after diagnosis @ 9, my experiences have scarred me more than those left by T1D. I will say that the personal responsibility required by T1D has come in handy during my adult years to lessen the trauma of dental treatment thanks to education and consistent care by dental professionals
I think maybe. I’ve always brushed and flossed but ended up with multiple fillings and two implants. Maybe 45 years of T1D contributed.
It’s worse as I’ve gotten older.
Not that I know of.
gum recession
Well no, but my current dental health is adversely affecting my T1. An old root canal has developed an infection/abscess and it’s driving my BGs higher.
I answered ‘other’ because I don’t know.
I am not 100% positive, but my mouth can be a little drier than normal according to my dentist and I know dry mouth can be a dental problem for diabetics, so I said yes.