PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH DIABETES
Patients that suffer from either type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent) or type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent) have twice the risk of periodontal disease than non diabetics.
Did you know, because I did not, that periodontal disease ranks the sixth most common complication of diabetes. Additional those that have periodontal disease with infections have worse glycemic or blood sugar control. Leading to the etiology of this is to be related to inflammation and insulin resistance.
The bottom line is that the control of infections and associated biofilms should be standard treatment.
PERIODONTAL DISEASE AND ITS EFFECTS ON PULMONARY DISEASE
Patients that have biofilms serve as a reservoir for sources of infections in the lower airways in debilitated patients. These elderly patients can self inoculate their respiratory system by or through aspiration. Patients that have poor dental homeware and or wear dentures are at particular risk of aspirating oral biofilms that are found developing on the dentures.
By performing mechanical oral hygiene in the high risk elderly patient in a nursing home facility or hospital bed can decrease the risk of death by 1 in 10 patients. Frequent tooth brushing, use of 0.12% chlorohexidine mouth wash and low concentrations of peroxides decreases the amount of bacteria along with the pathogenic substances that can be aspirated.