(HealthDayNews) -- If you have diabetes, you need to be extra vigilant about taking care of what's inside your mouth.
Diabetes increases your risk for mouth infections, especially periodontal disease, which can then make it hard to control your blood glucose, according to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research.
Here are some tips:
- Brush and floss every day.
- Visit your dentist regularly and make sure he knows you have diabetes.
- Tell your dentist if your dentures don't fit right, or if your gums are sore.
- Quit smoking. It aggravates gum disease.
Check your mouth regularly. If you notice that your gums bleed when you brush, or that you have dryness, soreness, white patches or a bad taste in your mouth, see your dentist.
