Gum disease goes often without symptoms. For people with diabetes, this condition is more common.  

Gingivitis is an infection of the gums. It is caused by residual plaque on the teeth and gumline. The plaque bacteria irritate the gum tissue, and as a result, the gums get inflamed. Signs of gingivitis include swollen, tender or puffy gums, bleeding when brushing or flossing teeth, and a bad breath.

If left untreated, gingivitis may lead to gum disease. Gum disease – or periodontitis – is a more severe infection, that gradually destroys the soft tissue and bone that support your teeth.

This chronic bacterial infection that damages the gums is a surprisingly widespread ailment in adults. Severe periodontitis affects 10-15% of adults and moderate 40-60%.

Among the people who have diabetes, the disease is even more common.

Although periodontitis affects health and quality of life in many ways, it's difficult to identify due to its mild symptoms. Studies have shown that diabetes is a significant risk factor for periodontitis.

 

How does diabetes affect your gum health?

People with diabetes are three times more likely to develop gum disease. There is also a direct link between periodontitis and high blood sugar.¹

A growing body of scientific evidence shows that there is a two-way effect between diabetes and periodontitis. Diabetes increases the risk of gingivitis and gingivitis has a detrimental effect on glycemic control. The incidence of chronic renal failure is three times higher in diabetics with severe gingivitis than in diabetics with no gingivitis.¹

Although gingivitis mainly affects the adult population, type I diabetes also predisposes to periodontitis. All people with diabetes, including young adults and children, are more vulnerable to periodontitis. ¹

How can the development of periodontitis be prevented?

The most important aspect of preventing gingivitis is effective dental hygiene. Inflammation develops due to the chronic biofilm, that forms on the tooth surface and at the gumline. Gingivitis will occur every time, that enough plaque accumulates on the teeth. The plaque may not be visible, though. It resides in the curves of the tooth surface, that is never completely smooth. Bacteria attach to irregularities the size of micrometres on the tooth surface, where the bristles of the toothbrush cannot reach.

 

Even the microsopic plaque bacteria can irritate the gums.

The size difference between the toothbrush and the bacteria is demonstrated in the figure above. The drawing illustrates the irregularities of a few dozen micrometres on the tooth surface. A single toothbrush bristle is shown in the form of a semicircle. The image shows how impossible it is for the bristles to reach the bacteria when the microscopic plaque resides in the tiny dents of the teeth.

 

Lumoral is a precision tool against bacteria

Lumoral is a proven antibacterial method against the plaque bacteria. It is effective against bacteria and biofilms also in continuous use. The bacteria are not able to form a resistance against Lumoral action. The hi-tech mouthwash attaches tightly to the plaque and gets activated by the Lumoral light activator.

The effect of the hi-tech mouthwash is not based on mechanical removal, but it affects every bacterium, thus making it a precision tool.

 

The image above shows an electron microscopy scan of one Streptococcus mutans bacterium treated with the Lumoral method. The light-activated hi-tech mouthwash has made a hole in the bacterial surface membrane. Bacteria get eliminated during the treatment and are unable to form a new biofilm. They can be removed with a toothbrush and rinsing with water.

Also, the near-infrared light contained in Lumoral stimulates the gingival tissue, strengthening it and accelerating its healing.^2–4

The most important elements of treating periodontitis are frequent visits to the dentist and regular dental care at home. The daily dental care is crucial. If a visit to the dentist gets delayed, Lumoral will significantly improve the quality of self-care at home. However, you should not forget your regular dental appointments.

 

1. Chee B, Park B, Bartold PM. Periodontitis and type II diabetes: A two-way relationship. Int J Evid Based Healthc. 2013. doi:10.1111/1744-1609.12038
2. Nikinmaa S, Alapulli H, Auvinen P, et al. Dual-light photodynamic therapy administered daily provides a sustained antibacterial effect on biofilm and prevents Streptococcus mutans adaptation. PLOS ONE. 2020:2020.01.09.899963. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232775
3. Yassaei S, Fekrazad R, Shahraki N, Shahraki N. Effect of Low Level Laser Therapy on Orthodontic Tooth Movement: A Review Article. Vol 10.; 2013. www.jdt.tums.ac.ir. Accessed June 20, 2019.
4. De Freitas LF, Hamblin MR. Proposed Mechanisms of Photobiomodulation or Low-Level Light Therapy. IEEE J Sel Top Quantum Electron. 2016;22(3). doi:10.1109/JSTQE.2016.2561201