Bleeding Gums (Periodontitis) is an early warning sign of liver disease, which is a warning sign of pre-diabetes, then Type 2 diabetes.
The last place you would ever expect getting an early diagnosis of diabetes is at the dentist’s office. Yet the more we learn about the connection between oral health and overall health and understand that the mouth tells its own story about what’s going on in the body, it could very well become a reality that your dentist could warn you of the early onset of diabetes. This will not only help to prevent tooth loss, which is common with progression of periodontitis, it may just save your life.
Periodontal disease is a chronic infectious disease of the tissues surrounding the teeth that result in tooth loss. Periodontitis is usually caused by poor dental hygiene. Gingivitis is usually the mildest form of periodontal disease, however, untreated gingivitis can advance to periodontitis. Symptoms usually include chronically red, swollen, and tender gums and bleeding.
Science Proves Link Between Periodontitis And Diabetes
A study looked at a series of patients with periodontitis for the diagnosis and treatment of periodontitis. For all participants, general and diabetes-related characteristics were recorded with the help of a questionnaire and medical history.
The study aimed to evaluate A1c values in subjects without and with periodontitis to establish the prevalence of pre-diabetes, as periodontitis, is considered a complication of pre-diabetes using a validated chair-side finger-stick test for A1c levels.
The study indicated that periodontitis is an early sign of diabetes mellitus. Blood tests found A1C values were highest in those with the most severe form of gum disease. The study concluded that a dental office that treats patients with severe periodontitis is a suitable location for pre-diabetes screening since a considerable number of suspected new diabetes cases were identified.
Periodontitis Is Also Linked To Liver Disease
Increasing evidence also indicates that periodontitis may participate in the progression of liver diseases, such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as affecting liver transplantation.
This begs the question -- can periodontitis also predict fatty liver, a precursor to Pre-diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes?
The answer is a resounding yes, technically. And science backs this up since The World Journal of Gastroenterology has confirmed that Pre-diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes are caused by fatty liver.
Pre-diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes Are A Liver Issue
Putting two and two together, periodontitis can technically be linked to both fatty liver disease, Pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. That being said, if A1C levels are high, and a diagnosis of Pre-diabetes or Type 2 Diabetes is made, it is important to know that Pre-Diabetes and Type 2 Diabetes are a liver issue that can be addressed with natural treatments to reverse the condition.