For years we've known that diabetes makes people more susceptible to developing periodontal disease. We also know it makes gum disease more severe once it develops. Diabetes, for example, slows circulation, which can make gum and bone tissue more vulnerable to infection. It also appears to reduce the production of collagen, an important component of the tissue that supports teeth. Another way diabetes affects gum disease is by reducing the amount of saliva.
Saliva helps control the growth of bacteria and washes away sticky foods that help form plaque.
Keeping diabetes under control lessens the risk. Now research suggests that the relationship goes both ways periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar. More research is needed to figure out the details, but it appears that severe periodontal disease increases blood sugar. This lengthens the time when a person with diabetes experiences a high blood sugar level, which in turn puts the person at an increased risk for diabetic complications. Research has already shown that in patients with both diabetes and periodontal disease, treating the gum disease reduced the need for insulin.