On World Oral Health Day, the Brazilian Diabetes Society (SBD) warns of the importance of investigating the causes of halitosis (bad breath), which may be the result of an increase in the glycemic curve. In addition to caring for the appearance of our teeth and our ability to chew food efficiently, our mouth can provide important information about the health of our body.
The first organ of the respiratory and digestive systems, the mouth is made up of several connections linked to the entire body by vessels and cellular structures: the blood that circulates in the heart passes through the kidneys, liver, stomach and all other channels in the body, including the gums .
Oral health of diabetics
According to Cintia Rocha, dental surgeon at PUC-MG and specialist in dentistry, oral changes can be an early indicator of systemic conditions that the patient is experiencing.
“A person with diabetes may experience changes in their breath, especially when the glycemic curve is unregulated. This can happen especially when the patient does not yet know that they are diabetic. Halitosis develops due to the presence of ketone bodies, which cause odors similar to rotting fruit,” he explains. “Another point of attention is the sensation of dry mouth, which also happens when blood glucose is high, causing hyposalivation and, consequently, changes in taste and breath”, adds Cintia.
Another point of attention related to the oral health of patients with diabetes is periodontitis, characterized by inflammation of the gums. According to the study “Diabetes and Oral Health: A Case-control Study”, the prevalence of the disease was higher in people with diabetes (92.6%) when compared to non-diabetics (83%).
According to Janaína Bononi Rossin, dentist and Specialist in Periodontology at FORP-USP, periodontitis is associated with a greater increase in insulin resistance, which can increase the risk of complications in the patient, as this resistance does not allow the glycemic curve to decrease.
“The treatment of periodontitis can clinically control the level of glycated hemoglobin in people with type 2 diabetes. In other words, professional monitoring helps the patient control their blood sugar”, he adds.
Prevention and treatment
According to Mariana Fogacci, professor of periodontics at UFPE and coordinator of the Department of Oral Health at SBD, halitosis can be taken care of by keeping diabetes within the glycemic target. Bad breath and glycemic imbalances caused by gum inflammation need to be regularly monitored and treated by a periodontist (gum specialist).
Faced with a diagnosis of periodontitis, a person with diabetes needs to treat the inflammation and receive guidance about this condition, in addition to receiving instructions on how to improve and maintain their oral hygiene.