Treating Gum Disease Can Lower Your A1c: What a Cochrane Review Found
Breath & MouthArticleIf you have type 2 diabetes and gum disease, a deep cleaning isn't only about your teeth. A Cochrane review of 35 trials found periodontal treatment lowered A1c by about 0.4 percentage points three to four months later, a meaningful improvement. Here is what that treatment involves and what to ask.
In this article
Diabetes and gum disease (periodontitis) often travel together. A Cochrane review asked whether treating gum disease could help blood sugar control. The answer was yes, by a meaningful amount.
What the review included
The 2022 update pooled 35 randomized trials with more than 3,200 people, mostly with type 2 diabetes, followed for 3 to 12 months.1 The treatment studied was cleaning below the gumline (subgingival instrumentation, often called scaling and root planing or a “deep cleaning”).1
What it found
Compared with no treatment or usual care, gum treatment lowered A1c by about:1
- 0.43 percentage points at 3 to 4 months (moderate-certainty evidence from 30 studies)
- 0.30 points at 6 months
- 0.50 points at 12 months (one study)
The reviewers called this a clinically significant improvement and said more trials are unlikely to change that conclusion.1 For perspective, a drop of that size is in the range many people hope for when adding a diabetes medicine.
Studies that looked for side effects found none or only mild ones, though most studies didn’t measure them.1
What this means for you
- If you have diabetes, get a gum check and ask whether you have periodontitis.
- If deep cleaning is recommended, know it may help your A1c as well as your gums.
- Keep up maintenance visits afterward. Our guide to how often you need cleanings explains why higher-risk mouths need closer follow-up.
- Tell your diabetes clinician about gum treatment so they can track your A1c.
Our articles on deep cleaning visits, bleeding gums and diabetes pills and yeast infections cover related concerns.
Questions to ask your dentist
- Do I have periodontitis, and how severe is it?
- Would a deep cleaning help, and how many visits will it take?
- What does my plan cover for periodontal treatment and maintenance?
Try: “I have type 2 diabetes and my gums bleed. Could treating my gum disease help my A1c, and what would a deep cleaning involve?”
Is It My Breath? includes a visit script. Use it to bring your latest A1c and medicine list to your dental visit.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dental advice. It isn't a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional who knows your health history. Please don't change diabetes medicines without talking to your prescriber. Swollen, bleeding or receding gums, loose teeth, or a gum abscess with swelling or fever need prompt dental care. If you think you may be having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. This article discusses published research. Girl Playbook does not endorse any specific product, test, or provider.
Girl Playbook sells this book. It provides education and worksheets, not individualized medical care.
Sources
The research behind this article, in the order it’s cited. How we source our articles.
- Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (full text via PubMed Central), 2022Treatment of periodontitis for glycaemic control in people with diabetes mellitus (opens in a new tab)abcde
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