Number 

7 

in a 

Series 

of 7 

Large-print version 

Prevent diabetes problems:
 

Keep your teeth and 

gums healthy 

U.S. Department 


of Health and
 

Human Services
 

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse

Prevent diabetes problems:

Keep your teeth and 

gums healthy

U.S. Department 

of Health and 

Human Services

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
Contents 

What are diabetes problems? .............................................. 1
 

What should I do each day to stay healthy
 

How do I know if I have damage to my teeth
 

with diabetes? ...................................................................... 2
 

How can diabetes hurt my teeth and gums?........................ 3
 

and gums?............................................................................ 5
 

How can I keep my teeth and gums healthy? ...................... 6
 

How can my dentist take care of my teeth and gums? ........ 8
 

Pronunciation Guide........................................................... 10
 

For More Information.......................................................... 11
 

More in the Series .............................................................. 13
 

Acknowledgments .............................................................. 14
 
 

 

 

What are diabetes problems? 

Too much glucose in the blood for a long time can cause 

diabetes problems. This high blood glucose, also called 

blood sugar, can damage many parts of the body, such 

as the heart, blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys. Heart and 

blood vessel disease can lead to heart attacks and strokes. 

You can do a lot to prevent or slow down diabetes problems. 

This booklet is about the tooth and gum problems caused 

by diabetes. You will learn what you can do each day and 

during each year to stay healthy and prevent diabetes 

problems. 

Gums 

Gum 

Tooth 

Teeth 

High blood glucose can 

cause tooth and gum 

problems. 

1 
What should I do each day to stay 

healthy with diabetes? 

Follow the healthy eating plan that you and your 

doctor or dietitian have worked out. 

Be active a total of 30 minutes most days. Ask 

your doctor what activities are best for you. 

Take your medicines as directed.
 

Check your blood glucose every day. Each time 

you check your blood glucose, write the number 

in your record book. 

Check your feet every day for cuts, blisters, 

sores, swelling, redness, or sore toenails. 

Brush and floss your teeth every day. 

Control your blood pressure and cholesterol. 

Don’t smoke.
 

2 
 

 

 

How can diabetes hurt my teeth 

and gums? 

Tooth and gum problems can happen to anyone. A sticky 

film full of germs, called plaque,* builds up on your teeth. 

High blood glucose helps germs, also called bacteria, grow. 

Then you can get red, sore, and swollen gums that bleed 

when you brush your teeth. 

People with diabetes can have tooth and gum problems 

more often if their blood glucose stays high. High blood 

glucose can make tooth and gum problems worse. You can 

even lose your teeth. 

Smoking makes it more likely for you to get a bad case of 

gum disease, especially if you have diabetes and are age 

45 or older. 

*See page 10 for tips on how to say the words in 

bold type. 

3 
 

 

Red, sore, and bleeding gums are the first sign of gum 

disease. These problems can lead to periodontitis. 

Periodontitis is an infection in the gums and the bone that 

holds the teeth in place. If the infection gets worse, your 

gums may pull away from your teeth, making your teeth look 

long. 

Call your dentist if you think you have problems with your 

teeth or gums. 

Check your teeth and gums for signs of problems 

from diabetes. 

4 
How do I know if I have damage to my 

teeth and gums? 

If you have one or more of these problems, you may have 

tooth and gum damage from diabetes: 

●	 red, sore, swollen gums 

●	 bleeding gums 

●	 gums pulling away from your teeth so your teeth look 

long 

●	 loose or sensitive teeth 

●	 bad breath 

●	 a bite that feels different 

●	 dentures—false teeth—that do not fit well 

Gums 

Teeth 

5 
 

 

How can I keep my teeth and gums 

healthy? 

●	 Keep your blood glucose as close to normal as possible. 

●	 Use dental floss at least once a day. Flossing helps 

prevent the buildup of plaque on your teeth. Plaque can 

harden and grow under your gums and cause problems. 

Using a sawing motion, gently bring the floss between 

the teeth, scraping from bottom to top several times. 

●	 Brush your teeth after each meal and snack. Use a soft 

toothbrush. Turn the bristles against the gum line and 

brush gently. Use small, circular motions. Brush the 

front, back, and top of each tooth. 

Brush and floss your teeth every day. 

6 
 

● If you wear false teeth, keep them clean.
 

●	 Call your dentist right away if you have problems with 

your teeth and gums. 

●	 Call your dentist if you have red, sore, or bleeding 

gums; gums that are pulling away from your teeth; a 

sore tooth that could be infected; or soreness from your 

dentures. 

●	 Get your teeth cleaned and your gums checked 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 about ways to quit 

smoking. 

7 
How can my dentist take care of my teeth 

and gums? 

Your dentist can help you take care of your teeth and gums 

by 

●	 cleaning and checking your teeth twice a year 

●	 helping you learn the best way to brush and floss your 

teeth 

●	 telling you if you have problems with your teeth or gums 

and what to do about them 

●	 making sure your false teeth fit well 

Get your teeth cleaned and checked twice a year. 

8 
 

 

Plan ahead. You may be taking a diabetes medicine that 

can cause low blood glucose, also called hypoglycemia. 

Talk with your doctor and dentist before the visit about the 

best way to take care of your blood glucose during the 

dental work. You may need to bring some diabetes medicine 

and food with you to the dentist’s office. 

If your mouth is sore after the dental work, you might not be 

able to eat or chew for several hours or days. For guidance 

on how to adjust your normal routine while your mouth is 

healing, ask your doctor 

● what foods and drinks you should have 

● how you should change your diabetes medicines 

● how often you should check your blood glucose 

9 
 

Pronunciation Guide
 

hypoglycemia (HY-poh-gly-SEE-mee-uh) 

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, contact the American Dietetic 

Association 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.
To get more information about taking care of diabetes, 

contact 

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse 

1 Information Way
 

Bethesda, MD 20892–3560
 

Phone: 1–800–860–8747
 

TTY: 1–866–569–1162
 

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 20814–9692
 

Phone: 1–888–693–NDEP (6337)
 

TTY: 1–866–569–1162
 

Fax: 703–738–4929
 

Email: ndep@mail.nih.gov
 

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 Foundation 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
 

TTY: 1–866–569–1162
 

Fax: 703–738–4929
 

Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov
 

These booklets are also available at 

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

13 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Acknowledgments 

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse thanks the 

people who helped review or field-test this publication: 

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 Grady Health 

System Diabetes Clinic 

Atlanta, GA
 

Ernestine Baker, R.N.,
 

F.N.P., C.D.E. 

Kris Ernst, R.N., C.D.E. 

Margaret Fowke, R.D., L.D. 

Kay Mann, R.N., C.D.E. 

For the Indian Health 

Service 

Albuquerque, NM
 

Ruth Bear, R.D., C.D.E.
 

Dorinda Bradley, R.N.,
 

C.D.E. 

Terry Fisher, R.N. 

Lorraine Valdez, R.N., 

C.D.E. 

Red Lake, MN 

Charmaine Branchaud, 

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

For the Medlantic 

Research Center 

Washington, DC 

Resa Levetan, M.D. 

For the Texas Diabetes 

Council 

Texas Department of 

Health 

Austin, TX 

Luby Garza-Abijaoude, 

M.S., R.D., L.D. 

Marc Shlossman, D.D.S., 

M.S. 

Chandler, AZ 

14 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

National Diabetes 

Information Clearinghouse 

1 Information Way
 

Bethesda, MD 20892–3560
 

Phone: 1–800–860–8747
 

TTY: 1–866–569–1162
 

Fax: 703–738–4929
 

Email: ndic@info.niddk.nih.gov
 

Internet: www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov
 

The National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) is a service 

of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 

(NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health of the 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1978, the 

Clearinghouse provides information about diabetes to people with diabetes 

and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. The NDIC 

answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely 

with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to 

coordinate resources about diabetes. 

Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both 

NIDDK scientists and outside experts. 

This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearinghouse encourages users 

of this booklet to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired. 

This booklet is also available at www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov. 

This publication may contain information about medications. When 

prepared, this publication included the most current information available. 

For updates or for questions about any medications, contact the U.S. Food 

and Drug Administration toll-free at 1–888–INFO–FDA (463–6332) or visit 

www.fda.gov. Consult your doctor for more information. 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH 

AND HUMAN SERVICES 

National Institutes of Health 

NIH Publication No. 08–4280L 

April 2008