Kathmandu, October 28

Diabetic patients are highly prone to periodontal disease— an infection of the gum and bone that hold the teeth in place, according to medical experts.

“Tooth supporting structures in diabetic patients are destroyed due to release of inflammatory cells and cytokines, increasing the risk of periodontal diseases among such patients,” informed Dr Prenit K Pokhrel, Assistant Professor and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon at Kantipur Dental College Teaching Hospital and Research Centre.

More than 60 per cent of periodontal disease is prevalent among diabetic patients as per the doctor. Patients with periodontal disease have bad breath and difficulty in the movement of teeth, experience pain while chewing food and may even lose their teeth.

“A developing country like Nepal where oral health awareness is lacking,  the prevalence of periodontal disease is high,” informed Dr Pokhrel. Lifestyle and dietary habits among diabetic patients are also to blame for increasing cases of the disease in Nepal. Debetic patients should pay extra attention to their oral health, opined the doctor.