Colgate Total – Oral Health & Diabetes

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{This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Colgate Total for Mom It Forward. All opinions are 100% mine.}

 

Did you know that eight percent of the U.S. population, or near 26 million Americans suffer from diabetes? Honestly, I didn’t realize the number was that high. Have you been impacted by diabetes personally or though someone close to you? I have. It is a disease that has been present in every generation in my family. Currently my Aunt is a sufferer and my mother is being closely monitored for the disease. Diabetes played a large part in my grandfather’s death at a relatively young age and as I result I never did meet him. I hear he was a great person and that I would’ve loved him, but because of diabetes, my sister and I will never know. I worry about my own health as I age and pray that my children don’t end up being afflicted with diabetes as I’ve seen and heard of the hardships it can cause.

 

Do you get regular dental checkups? What does that have to do with diabetes you ask? Did you know that there’s a correlation between diabetes and dental health? I didn’t. According to Centers for Disease Control, people with diabetes are two times more likely to develop gum disease and 54% of Americans with diabetes have gum issues. I had no idea. I also did not realize that in addition to the increased likelihood of oral health issues, having those oral health issues can be contributing factors to the progression of the disease. Kind of makes you want to go brush and floss doesn’t it? I’ve always been an advocate of good dental hygiene, but know this makes it that much more important of an issue for my family.

 

 

Fortunately Colgate Total and the American Diabetes Association have launched a new campaign called “Watch Your Mouth!” to help raise awareness surrounding the often-overlooked link between oral health and diabetes including some simple steps we can take to help prevent early gum disease:

 

• Make sure you visit your dentist.  While your doctor and certified diabetes educator play an important role in helping with your diabetes, so does your dentist.

 

• Follow healthy dental habits at home.  Research shows that brushing twice a day with Colgate Total® toothpaste can help improve gum health in as little as four weeks.*

 

Whether you suffer from diabetes, know someone who does, or just want to learn more, I challenge you to take a few moments to visit OralHealthAndDiabetes.com for more information and helpful oral care tips. To find out more about what Colgate Total is doing to help make sure you check out their Facebook page and follow Colgate Total on Twitter.

 

How has diabetes impacted your life? Did you know of the connection between diabetes and oral health? Let me know in the comments below and thanks for reading!