Periodontal Disease May Increase Your Risk of Prediabetes
Thursday May 3, 2007
In a recent study that appeared in the Journal of Periodontology Online, researchers from Denmark concluded that periodontal disease may increase insulin resistance, glucose intolerance which can increase the likelihood that pre-diabetes will develop.
In a press release from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), Preston D. Miller, DDS and AAP president states,
"We have known that people with diabetes are more susceptible to periodontal diseases and have more severe disease. This breakthrough research shows having periodontal disease may aggravate prediabetes, which is a precursor for diabetes. These findings underscore the importance of taking good care of your teeth and gums: it may be a simple way to prevent diabetes, or to prevent the progression of diabetes.”
To find out if you are at risk for periodontal disease, take the AAP's Risk Assessment Test.
Photo by Wesley Ferreira Oliveira
Comments
I’ve read that any type of oral disease can affect your heart health.
One must remember that mice and rats do not brush and floss their teeth. Also, you cannot assess their level of self-care.
That’s true, they don’t make tiny little toothbrushes and rodents don’t have opposable thumbs. It’s not known if the researchers took that into account.
On the other hand, people who don’t brush and floss are more prone to periodontal disease too.
Cheers,
Deb