Called the “silent killer” because of its easy-to-miss symptoms, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. However, more than 7 million Americans aren’t aware they have diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Diabetes mellitus is a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Normal blood sugar levels are less than 100 mg/dL after not eating (fasting) for eight hours and less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating. If you don’t control blood sugar levels, you can experience diabetes symptoms, such as increased thirst, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, frequent urination, slow healing sores, fatigue, irritability or blurred vision.

Early diagnosis is extremely important, because treatment can help minimize serious complications. Long-term effects include damage to the heart, nerves, kidneys, eyes and feet. Diabetes can also create complications in the mouth. You should pay close attention to your oral health and watch for symptoms.

If your blood sugar level is high, it can raise the risk of these oral complications:

• Cavities may be caused by high blood sugar in your saliva, which feeds the bacteria that cause tooth decay.

• Dry mouth is one of the most frequent oral health issues. Decreased saliva causes dryness in the mouth and may lead to cavities. The lack of moisture in the mouth can also make saliva thick and stringy, which can cause difficulty swallowing.

• Oral lesions and infections can occur. The most common is thrush — a yeast infection that produces sore white or red patches.

• Gum disease can lead to redness, bleeding and swelling in the gums, mouth pain, loose teeth, persistent bad breath or difficulty chewing. It can be more frequent and often more severe among diabetics, who have greater difficulty controlling blood sugar levels. This is likely because of inflammation caused by bacteria in infected gums.