Individuals with type 2 diabetes should make regular dental check-ups part of their treatment plans, according to the results of a new study.

Researchers with the Cochrane Institute reviewed data from previous studies on 244 diabetics with periodontitis, a bacteria-caused disease that attacks the gums, tissue and bone that support the teeth. They found that treating gum disease could have small but beneficial implications for people with type 2 or "adult-onset" diabetes.

"It would be wise to advise these patients of the relationship between treating periodontal disease and the possibility of lowering their blood sugar levels," said the study’s lead author, Terry Simpson. "Additionally, an oral health assessment should be recommended as part of their routine diabetes management."

Simpson said most dentists as well as doctors are unaware of the possible link between periodontal disease and diabetes.

"The presence of bacteria and inflamed tissue is thought to produce chemical changes which affect the action of insulin and in turn raises the circulating levels of sugar in the blood stream," he said. "By resolving this with periodontal treatment, the patient might experience a lower blood sugar level over a period of time."