Diabetes and Oral Health: Why Your Mouth Isn’t on Its Own Island

Khristina Maureen
May 28
4 min read

Updated: Nov 8

a blood glucose monitor with vegetable background

What's the Link Between Diabetes and Oral Health? (And Why Should You Care?)

You're in the dental chair. I ask about any changes to your health. You smile politely and think: "Why are we talking about my blood sugar? I'm just here for a cleaning, not a carb count."

But here's the truth: your mouth isn't in a vacuum. It's not floating on some island far from your pancreas. Your gums, teeth, and saliva are on the frontlines of your body's blood sugar battles.

That's precisely why I asked about your A1C. Because if you have Diabetes, or are teetering on the edge with prediabetes, your mouth usually knows it before you do. Inflamed gums, bone loss, slow healing, and that metallic taste are whispers from your body, asking you to pay attention.

And lucky for you, I do.

What Even Is Blood Sugar? (And Why Should My Gums Care?)

To better understand this, let's break it down. Blood sugar is the amount of glucose (aka sugar) floating around in your bloodstream after you eat carbs. Your body either…

Uses it for energy (go team!)
Stores it in the liver (hello glycogen!)
Or hoards it in the bloodstream if your insulin isn't doing its job

If blood sugar levels remain too high for too long without a purpose, they become unstable, leading to inflammation, nerve damage, and… oral drama.

Say Hello to A1C: Your 3-Month Blood Sugar Report Card.

Now, if you're scratching your head like my patient today and asking, "Wait, what's an A1C?" - don't worry. You're not alone.

Your A1C is a simple blood test that shows your average blood sugar levels over the past 2–3 months.

Think of it like checking your sugar receipts, not just how your blood sugar behaved on one random Tuesday, but the whole story.

Ideal A1C for most folks: below 5.7%

5.7%–6.4% = Prediabetes

6.5% and up = Diabetes

Source: American Diabetes Association

But here’s the thing: just because you’re “in range” doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.

In functional nutrition, we look at optimal, not just normal.

That sweet spot (pun intended) gives us early clues before things escalate. Would you like to know what that range is and how to determine yours? That’s precisely the kind of detective work we do together in 1:1 support.

Because if your A1C is creeping up, chances are your mouth is already trying to tell you, via inflammation, plaque buildup, or slow healing gums.

Let's Talk Gums, Bacteria, and Blood Sugar

When blood sugar is high, it thickens saliva (gross but true), weakens your immune defenses, and feeds oral bacteria like an all-you-can-eat buffet.

This increases your risk of:

Gum disease (and not just the mild kind)
Bleeding, swelling, and recession
Bone loss around your teeth
Bad breath that even your mask can't ignore

And if you already have gum disease? It can make it more difficult to control your blood sugar. Yep, it's a vicious, inflamed circle.

What You Can Do (Besides Ignoring It Until Your Next Cleaning)

I always see this in my dental chair, not just in charts. I see it in real people who are tired, confused, and not sure how oral health fits into their Diabetes journey.

Here's what helps:

Know your numbers – Ask your doctor about your A1C, not just your morning glucose
Keep your cleaning appointments – Gum disease doesn't care if you're "busy"
Nourish like you mean it – Balanced blood sugar = happier gums
Hydrate, floss, sleep, repeat – The basics still matter (boring, I know, but they work)
Explore functional support – Look beyond the meds and learn how digestion, inflammation, and genes (yes, your story!) play a role

Real Talk & Final Bite

Here’s the thing most people don’t realize: Your mouth isn’t separate from the rest of your body. However, in many dental settings, the focus remains on what’s visible (plaque, bleeding, bone loss), rather than what’s happening systemically.

Functional nutrition flips that lens. It views the body as a single, interconnected system. So when I look in your mouth, I’m not just checking for tartar, I’m looking for patterns.

Your gums, tongue, breath, and bone health? They’re like a health report card your body’s trying to hand in… if you know how to read it.

That’s where this approach is different.

With training in both hygiene and root-cause functional nutrition, I help connect what’s happening in your mouth with what might be going on in your gut, blood sugar, inflammation, or hormones.

So the next time your hygienist (hi 👋) asks about your meds or A1C, know it’s not random.

Your mouth is a mirror for your internal health, and connecting the dots early can make all the difference.

-Khristina Maureen

Your Functional Nutrition Ally

Ready to Go Deeper Than Just "Brush and Floss"?

If you're curious about how to support your oral health and overall wellness, especially if blood sugar management is part of your story, I've got something for you.

Check out my bite-sized lessons and guided eBook: Health Root Reboot – DIG Deep. Live Strong.

It's where we get real about root causes and make health feel doable again.