The Special Concerns of Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is caused by poor dental hygiene and untreated gingivitis. Periodontal gum disease involves oral bone damage, gum tissue damage and tooth loss. Deep pockets can be formed in between the teeth and gums during periodontal disease that can destroy the structures of the mouth that hold your teeth in place.
There are often other factors involved in periodontal disease such as poor diet, stress, smoking, viral infections, advanced age, and possibly genetic factors as well.
Kids of parents with periodontal disease are 12 times more likely to develop periodontal disease too. Individual of African-American and Mexican-American decent are at a slightly higher risk for periodontal disease than Caucasians are.
Smokers are at a higher risk for gum disease because they are more likely to have tartar and deeper pockets between their teeth. Smoking can actually cause receding gums and bone loss. Smoking affects the immune system and the health of your gums. It also suppresses the production of antibodies that fight harmful bacteria in the mouth. Smoking can also promote inflammation and bone loss. These are all important motivators to help smokers to quit the habit.
Females also have special concerns when it comes to periodontal disease due to the hormonal changes the encounter during puberty, menstruation, while using contraceptives, pregnancy and also during menopause. These hormonal changes can make their gums super sensitive to irritants and to plaque. During menstruation and pregnancy blood levels increase which can lead to inflammation of the gums. Women often experience gingivitis just before their period starts and during pregnancy. In fact, there is a term for it – “pregnancy gingivitis”.
Periodontal disease can be a special concern for individuals with certain medical conditions like AIDS, diabetes, Down’s syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease and osteoporosis.
Certain medications can make your mouth more susceptible to periodontal disease such as those used as oral contraceptives, certain anti-seizure drugs, antihistamines and drugs used to combat cancers.
Individuals who grind or clench their teeth during times of stress or during sleep can also increase their chance for gum disease as grinding and clenching teeth tends to exert force on the gums and other supporting structures and tissues in the mouth and may cause teeth to loosen. Dentists will often prescribe a mouth guard to help deter this from happening.
In a supplement to the Journal of Periodontology (JOP), there appears information that researchers from the University of Buffalo found a link between obesity and periodontal disease that seems to be independent of the individual’s age, gender, race, ethnicity or smoking habit. This news, gives smokers one more health reason to break the habit.
The presence of periodontal disease may also put individuals with other medical conditions at a higher risk for complications according to the research team at the University of Buffalo.
There are, according to researchers, and medical professionals many reasons why periodontal disease should be a special concern for many individuals. Taking periodontal disease seriously is a smart investment in your health.
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