Bad news for diabetics: Sugar-loving bacteria can infect mouth

U-T San Diego reports:

“There are more bacteria in your mouth right now than there are people on Earth.”

So begins the explanation of the connection between diabetes and periodontal disease, according to the American Diabetes Association. Additional facts include:

• Because high blood sugar levels impair your ability to heal from oral infections, you’re more likely to develop gum disease than someone without diabetes.

• Gum disease progresses more than twice as fast in people with diabetes as in those without.

• Bacteria in the pockets between your teeth and gums—the most dangerous kind because they are hard to clean out—thrive on sugar. If you have elevated blood glucose, you’re actually feeding the bacteria.

An article well worth your time.