Can Brushing Your Teeth Lower Your Diabetes Risk?
There's a new, unexpected reason to keep your pearly whites gleaming: avoiding diabetes.
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Possibly, but only a little, and it hasn't been proven. A large Korean study found that people who brushed three or more times a day were about 8% less likely to develop diabetes over ten years than people who brushed less often. That is an association, not proof that brushing prevents diabetes. What is well established is that diabetes and gum disease affect each other, so caring for your gums matters more if you have diabetes or are at risk of it.
What did the study find?
Researchers at Ewha Womans University in Seoul used health records from 188,013 adults in Korea's national health screening program. None had diabetes at the start. The researchers looked at gum disease, the number of missing teeth and how often people said they brushed, then followed them for a median of ten years. About 16% developed diabetes. [1]
After adjusting for age, exercise, smoking, alcohol and other health factors:
Brushing three or more times a day was linked to about 8% lower diabetes risk.
Gum disease was linked to about 9% higher risk.
Missing 15 or more teeth was linked to about 21% higher risk. [1]
What are the limits?
It is observational. People who brush more often may also eat better, exercise more or see doctors more, and not all of that can be adjusted for.
Brushing was self-reported, at a single point in time.
The study was in Korea, and results may differ in other populations.
The effect is small. Weight, physical activity and diet remain the main things you can change to lower type 2 diabetes risk.
The authors concluded that better oral hygiene "may be associated" with lower diabetes risk, and that more research is needed. [1]
How are gum disease and diabetes connected?
This part is not in doubt. People with diabetes are more likely to develop gum disease, and it tends to be more severe, especially when blood sugar runs high. Severe gum disease, in turn, can make blood sugar harder to control. [2] Researchers think long-term inflammation from infected gums is part of the reason.
What should you do?
Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and clean between your teeth daily. Brushing after meals is reasonable if you want to brush more often.
Keep your blood sugar in your target range if you have diabetes.
Tell your dentist if you have diabetes or prediabetes, and tell your physician if you have gum disease.
Watch for bleeding, swollen or receding gums. These are signs to see a dentist.
If you have diabetes and your mouth feels dry, our post on how to stop dry mouth caused by diabetes has practical steps. For other connections between your gums and your health, see can gum disease affect your overall health?
Where can you have your gums checked in Jacksonville?
A comprehensive dental exam at our office includes a full gum evaluation and a review of your medical history. Contact us or call 904-398-1549.
Sources
Chang Y, Lee JS, Lee KJ, Woo HG, Song TJ. Improved oral hygiene is associated with decreased risk of new-onset diabetes: a nationwide population-based cohort study. Diabetologia. 2020;63(5):924-933. doi:10.1007/s00125-020-05112-9 (retrieved via PubMed)
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diabetes, gum disease and other dental problems.
About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.
What Is APG-157, and Is It an Oral Cancer Treatment?
A plant-based drug called APG-157 has shown signs of helping patients fight oral and oropharyngeal cancers, according to a phase I clinical trial led by the University of California at Los Angeles Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
APG-157 is an investigational drug made from plant compounds, mainly curcumin from turmeric. It is not an approved treatment for oral cancer and is available only through clinical trials. A small 2020 trial showed it was absorbed and well tolerated and changed some markers of inflammation in saliva, but it was not designed to show whether the drug helps people with cancer. Our office does not provide APG-157 or any other investigational cancer therapy.
What did the 2020 trial test?
Researchers at UCLA ran a randomized, placebo-controlled phase 1 trial with 25 people: 13 healthy volunteers and 12 people with oral cancer. Participants received APG-157 or a placebo, given by mouth every hour for three hours. The researchers measured blood and saliva before and up to 24 hours after. [1]
Phase 1 trials are the first step in human testing. Their job is to check safety and how the body handles a drug, not whether it treats the disease.
What did it find?
Absorption. Curcumin and related compounds reached the bloodstream, with levels peaking at about three hours. Curcumin taken as an ordinary supplement is poorly absorbed, which is the problem this drug was designed to address.
Safety. Heart tracings and blood tests showed no toxicity during the short trial.
Inflammation markers. In participants with cancer, several inflammatory proteins (IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8) were lower in saliva.
Mouth bacteria. One group of bacteria, Bacteroidetes, was reduced in saliva in participants with cancer.
Tumor tissue. In one participant, tumor tissue showed changes suggesting more immune cells were being drawn to the tumor. [1]
The authors suggested APG-157 might one day be tested alongside immunotherapy. That is a hypothesis for later trials.
Where does APG-157 research stand now?
As of October 2026, ClinicalTrials.gov lists a phase 2 trial of APG-157 before surgery or other treatment for oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer (active, no longer recruiting), a phase 2 trial in oral dysplasia (precancerous changes, recruiting), and a planned phase 3 trial in locally advanced head and neck cancer (not yet recruiting). [2] Results from these trials will say far more than the 2020 study can.
Should you take curcumin or turmeric supplements?
The trial tested a specific drug formulation, not over-the-counter turmeric. Don't take supplements in place of, or alongside, cancer treatment without asking your oncology team first. Some supplements can interact with chemotherapy and other medicines.
What is our role around cancer treatment?
My role is dental care and coordination with your medical team, not cancer treatment. That means preparing the mouth before chemotherapy or radiation, managing problems such as dry mouth during and after treatment, and staying in contact with your oncologist. Learn more about dental care around head and neck cancer. If you are interested in a clinical trial, your oncologist is the right person to ask.
If you have a mouth sore or patch that hasn't healed in two weeks, have it examined. Read about oral cancer screening, or contact our office at 904-398-1549.
Sources
Basak SK, Bera A, Yoon AJ, et al. A randomized, phase 1, placebo-controlled trial of APG-157 in oral cancer demonstrates systemic absorption and an inhibitory effect on cytokines and tumor-associated microbes. Cancer. 2020;126(8):1668-1682. doi:10.1002/cncr.32644 (retrieved via PubMed)
ClinicalTrials.gov. APG-157 studies: NCT05312710, NCT05865028, NCT07667296. Status retrieved October 6, 2026.
About the author. CJ Henley, DMD, is a general dentist in Jacksonville whose practice focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry, dental implants and dental care around head and neck cancer. His role is dental care and coordination with your medical team. He does not provide cancer treatment. Meet Dr. Henley.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA · 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207 · 904-398-1549
Updated October 2026.