JAKARTA - Problems with the gums are often ignored. In fact, problems with the gums not only endanger the oral cavity, but can also increase the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes.
Gum disease or periodontitis is an inflammatory or swelling disease that occurs in the periodontal tissue, caused by bacterial infections that are allowed to accumulate on the teeth and gums.
Internal disease specialist, consultant in endocrinology, metabolism, and diabetes, dr. Dicky Levenus Tahapary, Sp.PD-KEMD, Ph.D, said that periodontitis and diabetes have a unique relationship.
High blood sugar worsens gum disease, making gums swollen, red, and easy to bleed. Severe gum disease can increase blood sugar and make it difficult to control diabetes.
"Diabetes increases the risk of gum disease because high blood sugar levels encourage bacterial growth, while gum infections can also make it difficult to control blood sugar," said Dicky when met in the Cipete area, Jakarta, written on Saturday, December 20, 2025.
Doctor Dicky said that until now people have checked themselves to a certain doctor related to the condition they are experiencing. In fact, the human body is a unity in which all organs are connected, so diseases are also related to problems such as gum and diabetes.
"But the human body is one. So, one disease will be related to another disease. If there is inflammation in the gums, it can also cause systemic inflammation in the blood vessels," he said.
Gums have blood vessels, which when inflamed, bacteria in the mouth cavity can enter the bloodstream. This can cause various health risks such as diabetes.
"From diabetic patients, if we screen their teeth, it is from 10 people only one who does not have periodontitis. So, nine out of 10 diabetic patients have periodontitis," he said.
A study also showed that people with diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, have a three times higher risk of suffering from severe gum disease.
"In which, they showed deeper gum pocket depth, gum recession, and more severe attachment loss than non-diabetic patients," he said.
Therefore, it is recommended to keep blood sugar levels stable according to doctor's advice, especially in diabetic patients. Maintain oral hygiene by brushing your teeth at least 2 times a day, use dental floss daily, and consider a gentle mouthwash to keep your gums and teeth healthy and not cause or interfere with diabetes.
The English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, and French versions are automatically generated by the AI. So there may still be inaccuracies in translating, please always see Indonesian as our main language. (system supported by DigitalSiber.id)
