I've been dealing with diabetes for a few years now, and one thing I noticed early on was how sensitive my gums got when my blood sugar was all over the place. Dentist mentioned something about inflammation and sugar levels being connected, so I started snacking on crunchy veggies like celery or carrots instead of chips or crackers. Seems to help keep my gums healthier and my sugar steady...mostly. Curious if anyone else has little diet hacks that help both their teeth and diabetes?
Crunchy veggies are a solid move, definitely noticed the same thing myself. Another trick I've stumbled onto—nuts, especially almonds. They're crunchy enough to help clean teeth a bit, and the healthy fats seem to keep my sugar from spiking too much. Plus, they're filling enough that I don't end up raiding the cookie jar later...usually. Just gotta watch portions though, or my dentist will lecture me about cracking another crown.
Nuts are great, but careful with almonds—they're surprisingly tough on teeth. Seen a few cracked fillings from patients snacking too enthusiastically. Maybe walnuts or cashews instead...still crunchy, but a bit gentler on dental work.
Good point about almonds—I learned the hard way after cracking a crown on one last year. Walnuts have been my go-to since then, easier on the teeth and still great for blood sugar control. Live and learn, right?
Walnuts are definitely kinder to dental work than almonds, that's for sure. I've seen more than a few cracked teeth from overly ambitious almond crunching—it's practically job security at this point, haha. But seriously, the crunchy veggie trick mentioned earlier is spot-on. Celery especially is like nature's toothbrush; it helps scrape away plaque and stimulates saliva, which is great for neutralizing acids in your mouth. Plus, the fiber content helps slow down sugar absorption, so it's a win-win.
Another thing I've noticed with patients managing diabetes is that hydration makes a huge difference. Dry mouth is common when blood sugar fluctuates, and it can really ramp up gum inflammation and tooth decay. Sipping water throughout the day or chewing sugar-free gum can help keep saliva flowing and protect your teeth. Just make sure it's sugar-free—otherwise, you're kinda defeating the purpose.
Anyway, sounds like you guys are already on the right track with diet tweaks. Small changes really do add up over time.
