07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd i 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd i 

Keep your teeth an

gums healthy 

Keep your teeth an

gums healthy

U.S. Department 

of Health and 

Human Services 

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH National Diabetes 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd ii 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd ii 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd iii 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd iii 

Prevent diabetes prob

Keep your teeth and 

gums healthy 

U.S. Department 

of Health and 

Human Services 

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH National Diabetes Inf
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd iv 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd iv 

What are diabetes problems? ....................

What should I do each day to stay healthy 

with diabetes? .............................................

How can diabetes hurt my teeth 

and gums? ...................................................

How do I know if I have damage to 


my teeth and gums? ...................................

How can I keep my teeth and 


gums healthy? .............................................

How can my dentist take care of 


my teeth and gums? ...................................

Pronunciation Guide ..................................

For More Information ...............................

More in the Series ......................................

Acknowledgments ......................................
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 1 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 1 

Too much glucose in the blood for a long 

cause diabetes problems. This high blood 

also called blood sugar, can damage many 

the body, such as the heart, blood vessels

kidneys. Heart and blood vessel disease c

to heart attacks and strokes. You can do 

prevent or slow down diabetes problems. 

This booklet is about the tooth and gum p

caused by diabetes. You will learn what y

do each day and during each year to stay 

and prevent diabetes problems. 

Gums 

T

Teeth 

High blood glucose 

can cause tooth and 

gum problems. 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 2 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 2 

y 

Follow the healthy eating pla

you and your doctor or dietit

worked out. 

Be active a total of 30 minu

days. Ask your doctor what 

are best for you. 

Take your medicines as dire

Check your blood glucose ev

Each time you check your b

glucose, write the number in 

record book. 

Check your feet every day f

blisters, sores, swelling, red

sore toenails. 

Brush and floss your teeth e

Control your blood pressur

cholesterol. 

Don’t smoke. 

2 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 3 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 3 

y g

Tooth and gum problems can happen to a

A sticky film full of germs, called plaque,

up on your teeth. High blood glucose he

also called bacteria, grow. Then you can 

sore, and swollen gums that bleed when y

your teeth. 

People with diabetes can have tooth and 

problems more often if their blood gluco

high. High blood glucose can make tooth 

problems worse. You can even lose your 

Smoking makes it more likely for you to g

case of gum disease, especially if you hav

and are age 45 or older. 

*See page 10 for tips on how to say the w

bold type. 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 4 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 4 

periodontitis. Periodontitis is an infection 

gums and the bone that holds the teeth in 

the infection gets worse, your gums may p

from your teeth, making your teeth look l

Call your dentist if you think you have pr

with your teeth or gums. 

Check your teeth and gums for signs of problem

from diabetes. 

4 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 5 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 5 

y g

If you have one or more of these problem

may have tooth and gum damage from di

● red, sore, swollen gums 

● bleeding gums 

● gums pulling away from your teeth so yo

look long 

● loose or sensitive teeth 

● bad breath 

● a bite that feels different 

● dentures—false teeth—that do not fit w

Teeth 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 6 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 6 

gy

● Keep your blood glucose as close to nor

as possible.
 

● Use dental floss at least once a day. Flo

helps prevent the buildup of plaque on 

Plaque can harden and grow under you

cause problems. Using a sawing motion

bring the floss between the teeth, scrapi

bottom to top several times. 

● Brush your teeth after each meal and sn

Use a soft toothbrush. Turn the bristles 

the gum line and brush gently. Use sma

circular motions. Brush the front, back

top of each tooth. 

Brush and floss your teeth every day. 

6 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 7 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 7 

Call your dentist right away if you have 

with your teeth and gums. 

● Call your dentist if you have red, sore, o

bleeding gums; gums that are pulling aw

your teeth; a sore tooth that could be in

soreness from your dentures. 

● Get your teeth cleaned and your gums c

by your dentist twice a year. 

● If your dentist tells you about a problem

take care of it right away. 

● Be sure your dentist knows that you 

have diabetes. 

● If you smoke, talk with your doctor abo

quit smoking. 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 8 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 8 

y g

Your dentist can help you take care of yo

and gums by 

● cleaning and checking your teeth twice 

● helping you learn the best way to brush 

your teeth 

● telling you if you have problems with yo

or gums and what to do about them 

● making sure your false teeth fit well 

Get your teeth cleaned and checked twice a yea

8 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 9 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 9 

hypoglycemia. Talk with your doctor and 

before the visit about the best way to take 

your blood glucose during the dental wor

may need to bring some diabetes medicin

food with you to the dentist’s office. 

If your mouth is sore after the dental wor

might not be able to eat or chew for sever

or days. For guidance on how to adjust y

normal routine while your mouth is heali

your doctor 

● what foods and drinks you should have 

● how you should change your diabetes m

● how often you should check your blood 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 10 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 10 

hypoglycemia (HYpohglySEEmeeuh

periodontitis (PAIR-ee-oh-don-TY-tiss) 

plaque (plak) 

10
 
11

For More Information

Diabetes Teachers (nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, 

and other health professionals)

To find a diabetes teacher near you, call the 

American Association of Diabetes Educators 

toll-free at 1–800–TEAMUP4 (832–6874), 

or look on the Internet at www.diabeteseducator.org 

and click on “Find a Diabetes Educator.”

Dietitians

To find a dietitian near you, call the American 

Dietetic Association toll-free at 1–800–877–1600, 

or look on the Internet at www.eatright.org and 

click on “Find a Nutrition Professional.”

Government

The National Institute of Dental and 

Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is part of the 

National Institutes of Health. To learn more 

about tooth and gum problems, write or call 

the NIDCR’s information clearinghouse, the 

National Oral Health Information Clearinghouse 

(NOHIC), at 1 NOHIC Way, Bethesda, 

MD 20892–3500, 1–866–232–4528; or see 

www.nidcr.nih.gov/OralHealth on the Internet.
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 12 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 12 

National Diabetes Information Clearin

1 Information Way
 

Bethesda, MD 20892–3560
 

Phone: 1–800–860–8747
 

Fax: 703–738– 4929
 

Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov
 

Internet: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
 

National Diabetes Education Program 

1 Diabetes Way
 

Bethesda, MD 20892–3560
 

Phone: 1–800–438–5383
 

Fax: 703–738– 4929
 

Internet: www.ndep.nih.gov
 

American Diabetes Association 

1701 North Beauregard Street
 

Alexandria, VA 22311
 

Phone: 1–800–DIABETES (342–2383

Internet: www.diabetes.org
 

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundatio

International
 

120 Wall Street
 

New York, NY 10005–4001
 

Phone: 1–800–533–CURE (2873)
 

Internet: www.jdrf.org
 

12 
More in the Series 

The “Prevent Diabetes Problems” Series has seven 

booklets that can help you learn more about how 

to prevent diabetes problems. 

For free single copies of these booklets, write, call, 

fax, or email the 

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse 

1 Information Way 

Bethesda, MD 20892–3560 

Phone: 1–800–860–8747 

Fax: 703–738–4929 

Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov 

These booklets are also available at 

www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov on the Internet. 


 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 14 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 14 

this publication: 

The National Diabetes Information Clea

thanks the people who helped review or f

For the American 

 Association of

 Diabetes Educators 

Lynn Grieger, R.D.,

 C.D.E. 

Arlington, VT 

Celia Levesque, R.N.,

 C.D.E. 

Montgomery, AL 

Teresa McMahon, 

 Pharm.D., C.D.E. 

Seattle, WA 

Barbara Schreiner, R.N.,

 M.N., C.D.E. 

Galveston, TX 

For the American 

 Diabetes Association 

Phyllis Barrier, M.S.,

 R.D., C.D.E. 

Alexandria, VA 

Linda Haas, Ph.C., R.N.,

 C.D.E. 

Seattle, WA 

Kathleen Mahoney, 

M.S.N., R.N., C.D.E. 

Drexel Hill, PA 

Randi Kington, M.S., 

R.N., C.S., C.D.E. 

Hartford, CT 

For the Centers for 

Medicare & Medicaid 

Services 

Baltimore, MD
 

Jan Drass, R.N., C.D.E.
 

For the Diabetes Research 

and Training Centers 

Albert Einstein School 

 of Medicine 

Norwalk Hospital 

Norwalk, CT 

Jill Ely, R.N., C.D.E. 

Sam Engel, M.D. 

Pam Howard, A.P.R.N.,

 C.D.E. 

Indiana University 

School of Medicine 

Indianapolis, IN 

Madelyn Wheeler, M.S., 

R.D., F.A.D.A., C.D.E. 

VA/JDF Diabetes

 Research Center 

Vanderbilt School of

 Medicine 

Nashville, TN 

Ok Chon Allison,

 M.S.N., R.N.C.S., 

 A.N.P., C.D.E. 

Barbara Backer, B.S. 

James W. Pichert, Ph.D. 

Alvin Powers, M.D. 

Melissa E. Schweikhart 

Michael B. Smith 

Kathleen Wolffe, R.N. 

For the G

System 

Atlanta, G

Ernestine 

 F.N.P., 

Kris Erns

Margaret 

 L.D. 

Kay Man

For the In

Service 

Albuquer

Ruth Bea

Dorinda 

 C.D.E

Terry Fis

Lorraine 

 C.D.E

Red Lake

Charmain

B.S.N.

For the M

 Resear

Washingt

Resa Lev

For the Te

Counc

Texas De

Health 

Austin, T

Luby Gar

M.S., R

Marc Shl

 M.S. 

Chandler

14
 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 15 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 15 

g

1 Information Way
 

Bethesda, MD 20892–3560
 

Phone: 1–800–860–8747
 

Fax: 703–738–4929 

Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov 

Internet: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov 

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (

a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and D

and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is par

National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Departmen

and Human Services. Established in 1978, the Clear

provides information about diabetes to people with d

to their families, health care professionals, and the p

NDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes pu

and works closely with professional and patient orga

and Government agencies to coordinate resources a

diabetes. 

Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are care

reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside expe

This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearingh

encourages users of this booklet to duplicate and d

many copies as desired. 

This booklet is also available at www.diabetes.niddk.n

This publication may contain information about med

to treat a health condition. When this publication wa

the NIDDK included the most current information a

Occasionally, new information about medication is re

updates or for questions about any medications, plea

the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at 1–888–IN

(463–6332), a toll-free call, or visit their website at ww

Consult your doctor for more information. 
07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 16 07348 7-Teeth&Gums.indd 16 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 

AND HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

NIH Publication No. 08 4280 

April 2008