Permanent teeth erupt early in diabetic children

Children with diabetes tend to get their permanent teeth earlier than normal, which could potentially increase their risk of dental problems. The problem with such accelerated tooth eruptions is that they could raise the odds of misaligned or crowded teeth, which, in addition to cosmetic effects, can make it harder to clean the teeth and keep the gums healthy. To evaluate the association between tooth eruption and diabetes mellitus in children, researchers in America studied 270 diabetic children (mostly type 1 diabetes) in the age group 6-14 years old and 320 children without diabetes. It was found that among children aged 10 years and above, those with diabetes were more likely to have teeth in an advanced stage of eruption. The reasons for the speedier tooth eruption may have to do with gum inflammation, which tended to be greater in children with diabetes. Gum inflammation may diminish the mass of the bones supporting the teeth, shortening the distance that developing teeth need to progress to break through the gums. Though it's not yet clear whether these children have more dental problems, the findings underscore the importance of regular dental check-ups for diabetic children.