skip to main content
TRICAREĀ® Dental Program
Dentists Government
United Concordia Website TRICARE Website
Log in to My Account
    • Eligibility
    • Ways to Enroll
    • National Guard and Reserve
    • What's Covered
    • Dental Costs
    • TDP for survivors
    • FAQs
    • FAQs
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
Dentists Government

Current Disaster Alerts: Arizona Flooding, West Virginia Flooding, Kentucky Flooding, Missouri Flooding, California Oak Fire, Texas Chalk Mountain Fire

United Concordia is dedicated to helping our TDP enrollees throughout the country who have been impacted by a disasters. We realize you are wrestling with many issues and concerns in light of the current situation - your dental care shouldn’t be one of them. 

If your dental treatment has been impacted by a recent disaster, please contact United Concordia’s disaster line at 1-800-858-0051 to locate a dentist, coordinate benefits, and answer any questions regarding dental coverage. Please let us know you’ve been affected by the disasters when you call.

Diabetes and oral health

Nearly 30 million Americans have diabetes. While many are aware of the condition’s associated risks such as stroke, eye disease and kidney disease, they may be less informed about the important connection between diabetes and oral health.

People with diabetes are generally more prone to bacterial infections like gum disease.1 Experts believe that diabetes can also reduce saliva production, another risk factor of gum disease.2

While everyone has some level of bacteria in the mouth, people with poorly controlled diabetes may experience more rapid bacteria growth due to high blood glucose (sugar). Glucose is present in saliva and bad bacteria in the mouth feeds off of it.3 When bacteria combine with food particles and other substances, it can form plaque, one of the main causes of gum disease.3

Ultimately, it’s especially important for those with diabetes and signs of diabetes to keep their mouth, teeth and gums as healthy as possible.

How does gum disease impact diabetes health risks?

Since diabetes decreases the body’s ability to fight and resist infection, it can cause gum disease to be more severe and take longer to heal. If left untreated, early gum disease (gingivitis) can progress into a serious gum infection called periodontitis. As the disease worsens, it can destroy the tissues and bone that hold the teeth in place, eventually causing tooth loss.3

Periodontitis can impact the body’s ability to control blood glucose (sugar) levels, thus making diabetes management more difficult to control.

 If you have diabetes, there are things you can do to help prevent or manage gum disease.

  • Practice optimal oral hygiene and dental care.
  • Control blood glucose levels as best as possible.
  • Avoid sweets and other empty-calorie snacks, which aren’t good for oral health or diabetes. Keep in mind that many beverages contain added sugar, and even sugar-free varieties may be high in acid – another substance that can harm teeth and gums.

Infographic: Diabetes and Gum Disease

The TRICARE Dental Program has you covered

If you or an enrolled family member have diabetes, the TRICARE Dental Program (TDP) Wellness Program is available to provide additional dental benefits at no cost to you. Getting the proper dental care will have a positive effect on your overall wellness as scientists continue to uncover connections between certain chronic conditions and gum disease.

Register to use TDP Wellness Program any time after your TDP effective date. Here’s how:

  • Select the red "Log in to My Account" button at the top of this page and log in using your DS Logon

  • Select “Manage My Wellness”

  • Add your medical condition

With the TDP Wellness Program’s enhanced benefits, you’ll get full coverage for certain periodontal services, including scaling and root planing and some surgical procedures, to remove the financial obstacles to total oral care. Consult the TDP benefits handbook and supplement for details.

You can download a brochure with more about oral health and diabetes here.

Sources:

1 Living with Diabetes, American Diabetes Association, 2018

2 How Does Diabetes Affect My Saliva Production?, Share Care, 2018

3 Diabetes, Gum Disease, & Other Dental Problems, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease, 2018

 
  • Webmaster
  • Contact Us Contact Us Contact Us
  • Request ID Card
  • Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Practices Privacy Practices Privacy Practices
  • Integrity Process Integrity Process Integrity Process
  • Site Map Site Map Site Map
 

 
 

Copyright © 2022 United Concordia Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved.