AAP Supports Guidelines on Oral Health for People with Diabetes

The AAP reports the new IDF oral health clinical guideline supports what research has already suggested: management of periodontal disease can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes as well as help individuals who have diabetes control their blood sugar levels. According to the AAP studies have suggested there is a two-way relationship between diabetes and periodontal disease, and the IDF guideline offers information designed to provide helpful guidance for health care professionals who treat people living with and at risk for diabetes.

The IDF guideline is written in collaboration with the World Dental Federation (FDI) and contains clinical recommendations about periodontal care that encourage health care professionals to conduct annual inquiries for symptoms of periodontal disease such as swollen or red gums, or bleeding during tooth brushing. The document was also created to educate patients who have diabetes about the how the condition affects oral health—especially periodontal health.

“Everyone should maintain healthy teeth and gums to avoid periodontal disease, but people with diabetes should pay extra attention,” says Samuel Low, DDS, MS, associate dean and professor of Periodontology at the University of Florida College of Dentistry, and President of AAP.

“Periodontal disease triggers the body’s inflammatory response which can affect insulin sensitivity and ultimately lead to unhealthy blood sugar levels. Establishing routine periodontal care is one way to help keep diabetes under control,” Low explains.

The AAP announced earlier this month it supports continued collaboration and communication between health care professionals who treat diabetes and the community of oral health care professionals.

Low says he believes the guideline presents more opportunities for medicine and dentistry to work together.