Conventional wisdom about blood sugar and your health is wrong, wrong, WRONG! Many people have blood sugar problems… but have no idea about the severity of their condition. Blood sugar problems can cause major health disasters including damage to your eyes, kidneys, heart and blood vessels, as well as your teeth and gums.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the higher your blood sugar levels, the more elevated your risk of…

• Cavities (tooth decay)—The starches and sugars in food and beverages interact with the bacteria in your mouth and a sticky film known as plaque forms on the outer surface, or enamel, of your teeth. And the acids in the plaque attack the enamel, which leads to cavities. The higher your blood sugar levels, the greater the amount of sugars and starches—and the more acid wearing down your teeth.
• Gingivitis (early gum disease)—Diabetes can weaken your ability to fight bacteria, and this can cause more plaque to build up on your teeth. Without regular brushing and flossing, this plaque will harden under your gumline and become tartar. The longer the plaque and tartar are allowed to remain on your teeth, the more irritation they cause to the gum area along the base of your teeth—known as the gingiva. Eventually, your gums begin to swell and bleed—a condition known as gingivitis.
• Periodontitis (advanced gum disease)—If gingivitis is allowed to go untreated, it can lead to a serious infection that destroys the bone and soft tissue that support your teeth—a condition known as periodontitis. Periodontitis allows the gums to pull away from your teeth causing your teeth to become loose—even to the point of falling out of your mouth. People who suffer from diabetes usually have more severe cases of periodontitis because diabetes lowers your resistance to infection and slows the healing process.

However, you can make a commitment to manage your blood sugar imbalance through natural methods and lifestyle changes to decrease your chances of developing dental problems. I recommend you don’t smoke because this bad habit increases the risk of serious blood sugar complications—including gum disease. I would also reduce your intake of sugar since too much can be acid-forming and that’s bad news for your health.

Various natural herbs, minerals and vitamins such as banaba leaf extract, cinnamon, chromium, gymnema sylvestre and biotin can help control your blood sugar levels. This will mean added protection for not only your dental health… but your overall health, as well.