Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 28, 2026

Oral Health Assessment by Lay Personnel for Older Adults
Published on: February 2, 2020
Professional oral hygiene procedures do not influence plasma glucose levels in systemically healthy individuals: a
Purpose:
The treatment of gingival inflammation is associated with improved glycaemic control in diabetic patients. The goal of this parallel-randomised controlled trial (RCT) was to test the shortterm effects of professional oral hygiene procedures on plasma glucose levels in systemically healthy individuals.
Materials And Methods:
Systemically healthy individuals with gingivitis and no sign of periodontitis were enrolled at a private practice in Italy. Patients were randomised to either a 1 hour (h) session of professional oral hygiene procedures or to 1 h in the waiting room. Not fasting blood glucose levels were assessed by a blind examiner at baseline (T0), 1 h (T1) and 2 h (T2) after procedures and finally 1 week after (T3). Oral hygiene procedures were then performed also in the control group.
Results:
Twenty patients were randomly allocated to each group. There were no drop-outs. Blood glucose levels at T0 (P = 0.0001) and time of measurement (P = 0.0001) were statistically significant, while oral hygiene procedures were not (mean difference between groups 0.77 mg/dl, 95%CI -2.64 mg/dl; 4.18 mg/dl, P = 0.6581). Mean blood glucose levels decreased between T0 and T1, were stable between T1 and T2 and showed similar levels to baseline after 1 week (T3) for both groups.
Conclusion:
This short-term RCT showed that professional oral hygiene procedures were not able to influence plasma glucose levels in individuals with gingivitis, but otherwise systemically healthy.
Related Concept Videos
Hyperglycemia
Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
Hypoglycemia and Glucagon
The Oral Microbiota
Oral Hypoglycemic Agents: Glinides

