Diabetes that is not controlled well leads to higher blood sugar (glucose) levels in the mouth fluids. This promotes the growth of bacteria that can cause gum disease. On the other hand, infections from untreated periodontal disease can cause the blood sugar to rise and make it harder to control diabetes.

Can periodontal disease make diabetes worse?

There are over 29 million Americans with diabetes. Each one is 2 – 4 times more likely to have periodontal disease, which leads to tooth loss. In turn, periodontal disease can worsen diabetes by making makes it more difficult to control blood glucose and inflammation.

Does periodontal disease increase insulin resistance?

Periodontal bacteria have long been known to cause inflammation within the oral cavity, but also systemically increase inflammatory mediators. As a result, sustained infection with periodontal bacteria can lead to increases in body weight and lead to increased insulin resistance, a hallmark of type 2 diabetes.