Diabetes may weaken teeth and promote tooth decay, study shows

The study was induced Type 1 diabetes in 35 mice. Using a Vickers microhardness tester, the researchers compared their teeth with 35 healthy control mice over 28 weeks.

Findings presented by in Archives of Oral Biology showed that the two groups began the clinical trial with comparable teeth. However, after 12 weeks the enamel of the diabetic mice had significantly softened. Notable differences in dentin microhardness became apparent by week 28.

As explained by the media outlet Eureka Alert, “The study advances a multiyear effort by Saghiri and other researchers to understand how diabetes affects dental health and to develop treatments that counter its negative impact. Previous studies have established that people with both types of diabetes have significantly elevated rates of most oral health issues, both in the teeth and the soft tissues that surround them. Saghiri and other researchers also have demonstrated that diabetes can interfere with the ongoing process of adding minerals to teeth as they wear away from normal usage.”