Client News

Dentistry For Diabetics

For Immediate Release
August 1, 2008

Contact: Dr. Charles Martin
877-433-7342
cm3208708(at)aol.com

Links Between Gum Disease And Diabetes Detailed In Expert Column By Dr. Charles Martin On dLife.Com

Inflammation Response Can Lead To Systemic Complications Of Diabetes

Gum disease fueled by diabetes can cause system-wide inflammation that wreaks havoc on metabolic management and may lead to catastrophic health events including heart attack and stroke, the founder of Dentistry For Diabetics writes in his new expert column on dLife.com. Dr. Charles Martin outlines in the article how the body’s natural defenses against inflammation respond to gum disease in ways that worsen diabetes.

“Unfortunately, most people who have diabetes may not be aware of these two-way connections and the potential health risks they pose,” Martin said. The expert column premiered on the dLife® Web diabetes portal earlier this month.

Scientific research has documented the links between inflammation and several of the 300 disease-causing bacteria that are the culprits in gum disease. Medical investigators have discovered that these bacteria can enter the bloodstream, leading to inflammation that can damage systems and organs throughout the body. The bacteria have even been found in the lining of the aorta.

“The actual tissue damage itself is caused when the body’s inflammation response system tries to surround and destroy the invading bacteria,” Martin said. “The harder the fighting gets, the more the surrounding tissue gets injured.” Related health risks are worse for people who have diabetes because of dangers posed by bacterial infections and because the bacteria thrive on higher levels of blood glucose.

“It’s critical for people who have diabetes to work closely with their dentist to prevent this cascade of health risks before it even gets started,” Martin said.

Click here to go directly to Martin’s new column on dLife, one of the Web’s premier diabetes resources.

About Dentistry For Diabetics
Dentistry For Diabetics is a national organization of dentists specially trained in diagnosing, preventing and treating periodontal disease associated with diabetes. More about the organization is available at DentistryForDiabetics.com. The organization also blogs about the scientific evidence that documents the connections and interactions between diabetes and oral health, the dangers of undiagnosed or untreated gum disease in people who have diabetes, and the healthful effects of periodontal treatment on metabolic management. The blog is online at DentistryForDiabetics.com/Blog.