Periodontal Disease

What is Periodontal Disease?

Periodontal (gum) diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are serious infections that, left untreated, can lead to tooth loss. Periodontal disease can affect one tooth or many teeth. The main cause of periodontal disease is bacterial plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth.

Periodontal (Gum) Disease: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
Types of Gum Disease
Fallacies About Gum Disease

Factors that may affect the health of your gums include:

Clenching / Grinding Your Teeth
Diabetes / Other Systemic Diseases
Genetics
Medications
Poor Nutrition / Obesity
Puberty, Pregnancy and Menopause in Women
Smoking / Tobacco Use
Stress

Clenching / Grinding Your Teeth

Has anyone ever told you that you grind your teeth at night? Is your jaw sore from clenching your teeth when you're taking a test or solving a problem at work? Clenching or grinding your teeth can put excess force on the supporting tissues of the teeth and could speed up the rate at which these periodontal tissues are destroyed.

Dental Health and Teeth Grinding

Genetics

Research shows that up to 30% of the population may be genetically susceptible to gum disease. Despite aggressive oral care habits, these people may be six times more likely to develop periodontal disease. Identifying these people with a genetic test before they even show signs of the disease and getting them into early treatment may help them keep their teeth for a lifetime.

Genetic basis for risk of periodontal disease

Diabetes / Other Systemic Diseases

Diabetes is a disease that causes altered levels of sugar in the blood.If you are diabetic, you are at higher risk for developing infections, including periodontal diseases. These infections can impair the ability to process and/or utilize insulin, which may cause your diabetes to be more difficult to control and your infection to be more severe than a non-diabetic. Research suggests that the management of periodontal disease can help reduce the risk of developing diabetes and can also help people with diabetes better control their blood sugar levels.

You should also know that any disease that interferes with the body's immune system may worsen the condition of your gums.

Diabetes and Periodontal Disease
Gum disease treatment may help diabetes
Mouth-Body Connection

Puberty, Pregnancy and Menopause in Women

A woman's health needs are unique. Though brushing and flossing daily, a healthy diet, and regular exercise are important for oral health throughout life, there are certain times in a woman's life when extra care is needed—times when you mature and change such as puberty or menopause, and times when you have special health needs, such as menstruation or pregnancy. During these particular times, a woman's body experiences hormonal changes that can affect many of the tissues in your body, including the gums. Your gums can become sensitive, and at times react strongly to the hormonal fluctuations. This may make you more susceptible to gum disease. Additionally, recent studies suggest that pregnant women with gum disease are seven times more likely to deliver preterm, low birth weight babies.

Periodontal disease is a concern to women of all ages

Medications

Some drugs, such as oral contraceptives, anti-depressants, and certain heart medicines, can affect your oral health. Just as you notify your pharmacist and other health care providers of all medicines you are taking and any changes in your overall health, you should also inform your dental care provider.

Certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs can create a favorable environment for plaque buildup. Cold remedies and tricyclic antidepressant drugs decrease salivation, which allows plaque and tartar to form more easily. Oral contraceptives can increase microbial flora that contribute to gingivitis.

Other drugs—particularly anti-seizure medications such as phenytoin, calcium channel blockers, anti-hypertension drugs, and medications that suppress the immune system—can sometimes cause an overgrowth of gum tissue. This condition, called gingival hyperplasia, can make plaque much more difficult to remove and provide more surface area for bacteria to develop.

Dental Care for People on Heart Disease Medications

Poor Nutrition / Obesity

As you may already know, a diet low in important nutrients can compromise the body's immune system and make it harder for the body to fight off infection. Because periodontal disease is a serious infection, poor nutrition can worsen the condition of your gums.

Another Reason to Stay in Shape: Healthy Teeth and Gums
Researchers Find Obesity Related To Gum Disease

Smoking / Tobacco Use

Tobacco use has been linked with many serious illnesses such as cancer, lung disease and heart disease, as well as numerous other health problems. In addition, tobacco users also are at increased risk for periodontal disease. In fact, recent studies have shown that tobacco use may be one of the most significant risk factors in the development and progression of periodontal disease.

Tobacco Use and Periodontal Disease
Tooth decay in children linked to passive smoke

Stress

As you probably already know, stress is linked to many serious conditions such as hypertension, cancer, and numerous other health problems. What you may not know is that stress also is a risk factor for periodontal disease. Research demonstrates that stress can make it more difficult for the body to fight off infection, including periodontal diseases.

Stress May Leave Your Mouth a Mess