Study finds good oral health improves diabetes outcomes

A new study published in the The Journal of Clinical Periodontology has found that oral hygiene is linked to better blood glucose levels, particularly in people with Type 2 diabetes.

• The researchers of the study analyzed the effect of non-surgical periodontal treatment on serum glycated hemoglobin levels in individuals with Type 2 diabetes.
• In conducting the study, they carried out a single-masked, randomized clinical trial for six months on 90 patients who were randomly divided into two groups – treatment and control group.
• The treatment group received oral hygiene instructions and scaling and root planing with the use of ultrasound and Gracey curettes, while the control group only received oral hygiene instructions and supragingival removal of plaque and calculus using ultrasound.
• The researchers also evaluated the pocket depth, gingival index, and plaque index of the participants at the beginning and after three and six months as well as their glycated hemoglobin levels, fasting plasma glucose, and oral bacteria levels.
• Results revealed that the group that received scaling and root planing exhibited a better glycemic status of Type 2 diabetes, in comparison to the control group wherein no improvement was observed.
• The study suggests that people with Type 2 diabetes may have better blood glucose levels if they improve their oral health.

Overall, the findings of the study indicated that non-surgical periodontal treatment improved Type 2 diabetes and that oral health is important in their general health.

Journal Reference:

Mauri-Obradors E, Merlos A, Estrugo-Devesa A, Jané-Salas E, López-López J, Viñas M. BENEFITS OF NON-SURGICAL PERIODONTAL TREATMENT IN PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS AND CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS: A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL. Journal of Clinical Periodontology. 2018;45(3):345–353. DOI: doi.org/10.1111/jcpe.12858