Diabetes Awareness Month

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November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Good oral health is especially important for people with diabetes, who are 3x more likely to have gum disease. As part of Smile Spokane’s Care Coordination Strategy, Aging and Long Term Care of Eastern Washington connects people with diabetes to oral health providers who take Apple Health Medicaid. Accessing dental services helps people with diabetes manage the health of their mouth.

Maintaining good oral health helps people manage diabetes.

Taking care of the mouth helps keep down on germs that cause gum disease, an infection of the gums. Gum disease is a cycle:

  • Having gum disease can raise blood sugar.

  • Elevated blood sugar provides an ideal environment for germs.

  • More germs mean an increased chance of gum disease.

  • Gum disease can raise blood sugar, starting the cycle over again.

Learn more about the connection between oral health and diabetes on the Mighty Mouth website!