The more I learn about this disease of diabetes, the more amazed I am how it affects every single bit of our bodies.

It makes sense since excess sugar is in our blood which travels to every inch of our bodies. Blood carries nutrients in and wastes out of every system we have.

My dentist had told me that gum disease was very common in persons with diabetes, but I didn't realize how symbiotic the relationship was.

According to the FDA,

Diabetes is not only a risk factor for periodontal disease, but periodontal disease may make diabetes worse.

I'm pretty fond of my teeth. They're not Osmond family big, nor are they particularly pearly white, but they're mine and I'd like to keep them. I saw a family member's dentures in a mayonnaise jar in their bathroom when I was young and it truly horrified me.

Before my diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, I had had a bone graft in my jaw to try and heal a huge pocket in my jawbone where my wisdom teeth had been removed. It was 9 mm, where a "normal" gingival pocket would be 3 mm. I wasn't informed that the graft wouldn't take as long as I smoked, unfortunately. It turned out to be one very expensive, painful failure of a procedure.

I digress, but my point was to illustrate the lengths I will go to preserve my teeth. Quitting smoking helped a lot, flossing more regularly did too, as well as the purchase of a Sonicare toothbrush. My "pockets" haven't shrunk much, but I seem to be holding my own.

Excess sugar in the blood feeds the infection in these pockets. Therefore maintaining a steady, normal blood sugar level is also a goal for my teeth. As if we needed another reason.

My new year's present to myself was the newest high tech tooth toy - the Ultreo toothbrush. So far the new toothbrush seems very effective and kinda cool too. We will see if a steady blood sugar and dedicated (and expensive) oral hygiene can reverse my periodontal disease or not. I'd like to claim one less disease!

About 40% of Americans don't visit a dentist regularly. If you're one of them and you have diabetes (any type), you really must get thee to a dental facility post-haste or look forward to keeping your teeth in a mayonnaise jar.