You may know that diabetes can damage organs like the eyes, heart, and kidneys. But did you know it can also impact your oral health?Listen Now

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DR. RODGERS: You may know that diabetes can damage organs like the eyes, heart, and kidneys. But did you know it can also impact your oral health?

Hi, I’m Dr. Griffin Rodgers, director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at NIH. My colleague, Dr. Rena D’Souza, Director of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, explains.

DR. D’SOUZA: Diabetes and high blood glucose, or blood sugar, can increase your risk of gum disease and infections. Gum disease can cause pain, difficulty in chewing, bad breath, and tooth loss.

High blood glucose slows the healing and treatment of gum disease. In turn, gum disease may make it harder to manage your blood glucose.

If you have diabetes, talk with your doctor and dentist about managing your blood glucose and taking care of your oral health.

For more information, read our “Oral Health in America” report at nidcr.nih.gov.

DR. RODGERS: Follow us @NIDDKgov External link. This is Dr. Griffin Rodgers.