Quick Tips for a Healthy Body This Holiday Season


The holidays are gearing up, and the goodies, gifts, and treats sometimes puts an overload on the blood sugar creating a difficult road on control. Therefore, as a reminder, this post is to help everyone-those with diabetes, borderline, or caregivers-to understand the connection between oral care and its effects on the kidney and liver functions of the body.

Blood sugar affects the entire body. Those with diabetes are aware of that fact. However, sometimes the awareness isn't usually specifically including the kidney and liver functions. Also, those that take particular care of themselves often forget one of the most important aspects of their being; their oral care. They don't realize there's a link between the two. In order to better understand the discussion, let's re-cap a little on the purposes and functions of the kidney and liver within the body and their relation to the teeth and gums.

  • Kidney - Acts as a filter to get rid of waste created after digestion. Allows the good nutrients, and oxygen to continue in the blood stream to promote good overall health, including body tissues (like gums)
  • Liver - Acts as a storage , manufacturer and supplier of the fuel (such as glucose) needed for the body to energize. It regulates and maintains blood sugar according to information from the hormones called insulin and glucagon.
  • Gums - Along with bone help to hold teeth in their place.
  • Gum Disease - Deteriorates the gums and bone through prolonged bacterial infection. In time, this situation creates pain and severe discomfort while eating, especially those who wear dentures.

Any time infection occurs in a diabetic patient, including oral infection, glucose is more difficult to control. The kidney and liver functions become out of balance. The liver produces either too much or too little glucose, and becomes incapable of relying upon the signals from insulin and glucagon hormones.

The kidneys must pass more blood through the filtering system. Over time the kidney's begin to leak (kidney disease) the good proteins and nutrients in the blood along with the waste products. Without intervention, kidney disease progresses to sometimes dangerous levels.

Those who have poor blood sugar control have more complications with maintaining oral health. First, as the blood vessels thicken, gum disease is easily developed due to a lack of nutrients and oxygen in your system. Second, periodontal disease, an advanced stage of gum disease happens from prolonged bacterial infection. This advancement creates additional difficulty in getting blood sugar under control, and continually affects the kidneys and liver. Finally, the gums are slower to heal, and eventually won't heal, if the disease becomes advanced enough without intervention. However, there is good news too.

What is the Good News?

When good habits are in place, trouble with oral conditions are usually no different from those consumers without diabetes. The following reminders will help with oral and diabetic care.

  • Have regular visits with your dentist.
  • Always ensure your dentist has the most up-to-date information regarding your medications.
  • Do your best at maintaining healthy blood sugar control.
  • Eat a proper diet.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Keep oral hygiene practices as much a priority as other diabetic maintenance.
  • Don't procrastinate early intervention measures for oral care.

Diabetic patients know better than anyone that everything functioning within the body links with each other. The best way to ensure you're able to keep your teeth and gums healthy occurs through good practice measure. Taking initiative in good oral care also helps you maintain a healthy blood sugar which in turn helps your kidney and liver functions. Be strong and be healthy through good practices.

Contact Valley Dental Care to obtain more information from your dentist regarding the relation between diabetic oral care and its importance toward the health of your kidney and liver functions.