Diabetes affects millions of people all over the world. The World Health Organization reports that there are currently 346 million diabetic people in the world. In its 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that an estimated 25.8 million Americans have diabetes. It's common knowledge that people with this disease need to be extra careful with what they eat because too much sugar can lead to severe health consequences. However, diabetics are also at a much higher risk of dental problems than ordinary persons.

There are a number of complications associated with diabetes. Most of them are well known: nerve damage, kidney damage, diabetic retinopathy, even an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Less known is that diabetes can aggravate tooth and gum problems to such an extent your overall health is in danger.

There is an old wives’ tale that says a tooth is lost with every pregnancy. While this is not true, the myth stems from the fact that the teeth need extra care during this time.