DentistryOnline.com Warns Diabetics of Gum Disease Risk.

VANCOUVER, Wash.--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 9, 1999--

To maintain whole-body health, diabetics should monitor their glucose level, exercise regularly and floss daily. So say the experts at DentistryOnline.com, who are using November's National Diabetes Month to generate awareness of the increased risk of gum disease among diabetics.

"The 15 million Americans who live with diabetes have a greater chance of suffering from gum disease," says Bob Rondeau, DMD, president of Dentistry Online, Inc. "The American Diabetes Association warns that diabetes weakens the mouth's germ-fighting powers, and high blood sugar levels can worsen gum disease."

Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) is an infection of the teeth, gums and the bone that surrounds the teeth. If a patient's diabetes is poorly controlled, the risk of infection increases. This infection causes bone loss that may lead to loss of teeth. Warning signs include:

-- Gums that bleed while brushing or flossing.

-- Red, swollen or tender gums.

-- Gums that have pulled away from teeth.

-- Pus between the teeth and gums (when pressing on the gums).

-- Bad breath.

-- Permanent teeth that are loose or moving away from each other.

"It's important that people take gum disease seriously," says Dr. Rondeau. "It's not just about losing teeth. Advanced gum disease has also been linked to other conditions, including heart disease. People need to be aware that the health of their mouth often reflects the health of their entire body."

DentistryOnline.com and the American Diabetes Association recommend that diabetes patients continue to:

-- Carefully monitor their blood glucose level.

-- Have their teeth cleaned and checked by a dentist at least every

6 months.

-- Brush at least twice daily to fight plaque.

-- Brush the rough, upper surface of the tongue.

-- Floss daily to remove plaque from between the teeth.

Consumers who would like more information on gum disease can visit DentistryOnline.com, an advertising-free, easy-to-navigate Web site created by the leading patient education company in dentistry.

Dentistry Online, Inc. produces DentistryOnline.com and CAESY Education Systems, interactive patient education programs on DVD (digital video disc). Since its merger with Advanced Learning Technologies Inc. in August 1999, Dentistry Online, Inc. has become the most trusted source for dental health information.