Diabetes Patients Can Use Special Mouth Rinse to Help Treat Gum Disease
Individuals with Type 2 diabetes being treated for periodontitis may benefit from using an antimicrobial mouth rinse and interdental cleaners to clean between teeth as part of their at-home oral care routine.
This was a key finding in a recent study conducted by Patricia Diaz, DDS, PhD, SUNY Empire Innovation Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Dental Medicine and director of UB’s Microbiome Center. She published the outcomes of the study she conducted with other researchers in the May 6, 2023, issue of JDR Clinical and Translational Research journal.
Scaling and root planing (SRP) is the most commonly used therapy for the initial treatment of periodontitis, or gum disease. However, at-home specialized rinses can also help patients.
“This study aimed to find the effects of an intensive chemical and mechanical antiplaque regiment used at home, in addition to SRP, to treat moderate to severe periodontitis,” Diaz says. “Our secondary objective was to compare the responses in subjects with Type 2 diabetes and those who are nondiabetic.”