If you have diabetes, it’s important to manage the disease with your diabetes healthcare team, as those with poorly controlled diabetes are at greater risk for dental problems. Uncontrolled diabetics have a higher risk of progressing gum disease, delayed healing and infection, and are more prone to post-surgical infections.

Diabetes can reduce the blood supply to the gums, increase your risk of developing gum infections and infections of the bones that hold the teeth in place, cause dry mouth, allowing more bacteria and plaque to build up and impair circulation to your teeth and cause toothaches.

In most cases, you’ll receive the same dental care as someone who doesn’t have diabetes, and if you take good care of your teeth and gums, you can prevent dental complications with good blood glucose management. Tell your dentist that you have diabetes and go for regular dental checkups, and watch for symptoms such as sore, infected or bleeding gums.

It's also important to eat a healthy diet to prevent dental decay. There’s no set diabetes diet - it simply means eating healthy foods in moderate amounts at regular mealtimes.

A dentist may even notice diabetes symptoms before you know that you have the disease, such as an overreaction to periodontal disease or infection. Your dentist can also tell if you may have heart disease and can refer you to your GP for an exam.