Gum Disease and Periodontal Disease

Dentist in Sutton explains the Risk Factors associated with Gum and Periodontal Disease:

Friday 25th January 2019

Hope you are well.

I would like to start a discussion with you about gum disease, and the importance of catching it early! In this blog, I will only go over the basics of gum disease, and any feedback is always welcome.

Gum disease, not tooth decay, is the biggest cause of tooth loss in UK. I want to increase the awareness of gum disease. Through me, it will benefit your own oral health, and then you can pass this information on to your loved ones to benefit them.

90% of the population are estimated to suffer from a form of gum disease at some stage in their life. The most common cause of gum disease is bad oral hygiene, however certain groups are more at risk. Those people most at risk of gum disease include:

Women & Teenage Girls

Women and teenage girls are more at risk of developing gum disease because of the many hormonal changes they experience such as puberty, the menopause, as well as taking oral contraceptives and having monthly periods. During all of these times, the body experiences hormonal changes that make gums sensitive.

Pregnant Women

During pregnancy, a woman experiences a whole nine months of hormonal changes which make the gums much more sensitive than usual and more susceptible to bleeding - a well-known, common ailment experienced during pregnancy. Recent research has also shown that gum disease may be responsible for an increase in the likelihood of giving birth prematurely.

Smoking

Smoking increases bacterial plaque whilst reducing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the gums and generates "free radicals" which delay the healing process, thus making the gums more susceptible to infection. Research shows that smoking causes 50% of all gum disease cases.

Whilst some people are just prone to gum disease (it can even be hereditary) other common causes of gum disease include; poor brushing technique, neglecting to floss or forgetting to change your toothbrush regularly. All lead to the buildup of plaque on our teeth and over time, plaque that is not removed will harden and form tartar, which brushing cannot remove. The longer that plaque and tartar are left on the teeth, the more destructive the bacteria become.

I hope this helps, and if there are any questions, please give us a call.

Best wishes