Many of the early symptoms of diabetes are hidden, making it difficult to diagnose. In fact, it is estimated that around a third of people with diabetes have not yet been diagnosed with the disease. But the dentist can help! This is because diabetic patients have high levels of glucose, which means they will often have problems with their teeth and gums. Typical problems for diabetic patients are:

• Sore and/or loose teeth
• Mouth ulcers
• Dry mouth
• Tooth decay

Diabetes patients who are in control of their disease are less likely to have the above problems. Therefore, by looking at your dental and oral problems early on, your dentist can diagnose diabetes.

When your dentist performs a normal dental examination, your dentist will typically also look for various signs of disease. Oral cancer often begins as small sores or small red or white patches. A dentist is good at identifying these and other signs of cancer. The dentist will be able to perform a complete screening within a few minutes. The dentist looks at the following areas:

• Face, neck, lips and mouth
• Jaw and throat
• Your tongue
• Upper and lower oral cavity

Some wounds and stains are harmless, others are not. Through a test, the dentist can remove cells from suspicious areas and have them further analysed. Oral cancer can be more easily treated and cured if detected early.