If you want a smile with all teeth intact like this joyful citrus (shown), a healthy diet and positive oral health-related behaviors might contribute to your solution.

According to medicalnewstoday.com, U.S. adults with diabetes lose twice as many teeth as adults without diabetes.

A study by Duke University researchers assessed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) trends in tooth loss from 1971-2012.

While overall tooth loss declined over the 40-year study period, tooth loss remained more common in people with diabetes. Black Americans with diabetes lost more teeth than white and Mexican Americans with diabetes.

“People with diabetes have poorer oral health-related behaviors and do not brush and floss as often as people without diabetes,” the researchers suggest. “Our study findings highlight the need to improve dental self-care and knowledge of diabetes risks among people with diabetes, especially among African Americans who experience more tooth loss.”

Read a few ways to help avoid diabetes from prevention.com: https://abcnews.go.com/Health/DiabetesResource/12-ways-avoid-diabetes/story?id=15393186