More Causes of Gum Disease that Might Surprise You
Some causes of gum disease such as not doing proper maintenance of your teeth are obvious but others are less so. Did you know that gum disease is more common in girls than in boys because of hormonal fluctuations? Due to hormonal changes in girls and women over their lifetime, such as the onset of puberty, pregnancy and the changes that accompany menopause, the gums can become more sensitive and therefore more susceptible to the development of problems.
Some women develop gingivitis during their pregnancies because of hormonal changes and this can lead to a form of “pregnancy gingivitis” which will then go away after they have given birth. During these “hormonal high points” in a woman’s life the levels of estrogen and progesterone are high and results in changes in how the gums react to the bacteria that accompanies plaque.
Many different types of drugs and medications can affect the ability of the gum tissue to support the teeth and fight off bacteria. These include steroids, cancer therapy drugs, oral contraceptives (such as the pill, and Norplant) and anti-epilepsy drugs.
Other types of medications that can also contribute to the onset of gum disease include calcium channel blockers such as Adalat, Cardene and Vascor; antibiotics such as Ceclor, Monocid and Zinacef; Uricosuric such as Colbenemid; anticonvulsants such as Dilantin and Cyclosporin such as Neoral and Sandimmune.
Not consuming enough calcium can cause gum disease to take place. This is more of a concern for women than it is for men. Studies have shown that women from the ages of 20 to 39 years exhibit some of the lowest intake of calcium on a daily basis. This age group of women has a 54% chance of developing gum disease. This is a problem however that can be reversed. Women who consume a calcium supplement on a consistent basis are able to lower their chances by 27%.
Some oral diseases cause the development of microbes, which can increase the chance of gingivitis turning into the more serious problem of periodontitis. An example of this is porphyromonas gingivalis bacterium. Too much tartar on the teeth makes it possible for plaque to develop at an alarmingly swift rate and this leads to more bacterial plaque, which can make a bad dental problem even worse.
Abusing alcohol on a regular basis can increase a person’s chances of developing gum disease. The reason for this is that alcohol batters down the gums and causes them to recede and this recession can then make the gum less able to adequately support the teeth.
Anything that serves to aggravate the tissue of gums can lay the groundwork for gum disease to take root. This includes such things as food that is impacted, smoking of tobacco products, consuming liquids that irritate the mouth, such as alcoholic beverages or soft drinks, and the improper and/or repetitive use of toothpicks. Always be careful what you put into your mouth, as you do not always know what damage it could cause. Be aware that researchers have discovered that gum disease may very well have a genetic link.
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