Dentists, Eye Doctors: Keeping an Eye Out for Diabetes, Heart Disease

You want to keep yourself—and your heart—as healthy as you can. Your dentist and eye doctor are your partners in accomplishing this task.

Diabetes makes you more prone to mouth and gum problems, like dry mouth and bleeding or receding gums, so it’s a good idea to see your dentist regularly.

A dentist can go over good dental hygiene with you like brushing and flossing daily and can spot problems before they become serious. Healthy teeth and gums can help control your diabetes.

Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults, so good eye care is crucial. Regular eye exams can help your doctor see and treat changes related to your diabetes. And it’s best to call your doctor right away if you have eye pain or pressure or vision changes.

As for heart disease, a dentist can treat you for red, sore gums, which helps lessen inflammation in the rest of your body—good news for your heart.

An eye doctor can see changes in the blood vessels in your eyes, which can affect your vision and signal you may be at greater risk for heart attacks and stroke.

The DoD NAF Health Benefit Plan offers plan participants free preventive care, which includes dental and eye exams.