Common Risk Factors of Periodontal Disease: How to Prevent Them?

Common Risk Factors of Periodontal Disease: How to Prevent Them?

May 01, 2023

Gum disease, also called periodontal disease, results from inflammation and infections of the gums and bone surrounding and supporting the teeth. In its initial stages, gum disease is called gingivitis, when the gums become swollen, red, and bleed. In its severe form, called periodontitis, the gums start receding from the tooth, causing bone loss, and the teeth loosen and fall out. Adults are generally prone to periodontal disease, which remains a significant threat to dental health with tooth decay.

Recent reports from the CDC state that 42.2 percent of adults over 30 have some form of periodontal disease. Unfortunately, aging adults of 65 or more represent 70.1 percent with this condition. Periodontal disease affects men more than women, with people living below the federal poverty line and without education falling prey to the problem more than others.

Causes of Periodontal Disease

The bacteria in your mouth infect the tissue surrounding your teeth, causing inflammation around them, and resulting in periodontal disease. When the bacteria remain on your teeth without removal for extended periods, they form a sticky film of dental plaque which eventually hardens into tartar within 48 hours. Tartar buildup spreading below the gum line makes your teeth challenging to clean. In such cases, you must visit general dentists in Houston, TX, for a professional cleaning to inhibit the progress of gingivitis into advanced stages.

Dental plaque causes gingivitis which is the mildest form of gum disease. Gingivitis causes irritation and inflammation of the gum tissue and your teeth base. Gingivitis is reversible with professional treatment and good home care only if detected and treated early. If untreated, ongoing irritation and swelling, also called inflammation, results in periodontitis, causing deep pockets between your teeth and gums and filling them with plaque, tartar, and bacteria. Periodontitis, when left untreated, results in loss of tissue and bone and eventually causes you to lose one or several teeth. The inflammation also strains your immune system, making you vulnerable to other health problems.

Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease

The indicators of periodontal disease include lousy breath or taste in your mouth that does not subside, red or swollen gums, tender and bleeding gums, painful chewing, loose and sensitive teeth, gums pulling away from the teeth, changes in your teeth fitting together when biting and changes in the fit of partial dentures.

Risk Factors of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease has many risk factors. The most prominent among them are smoking, diabetes, inappropriate dental hygiene, stress, genetics, crooked teeth, underlying immunodeficiencies, defective fillings, medications, improperly fitting dental bridges, and female hormonal changes familiar during pregnancy or when using oral contraceptives.

Prevention And Treatment

Gingivitis is a preventable condition best managed and treated with appropriate oral hygiene and regular visits to Houston dentists for exams and cleanings. Severe forms of periodontal disease are also treated successfully with more extensive therapies. The treatments may include deep cleanings of the tooth root surfaces beneath the gums. Periodontics near you may also prescribe medications for oral ingestion or place them directly under the gums. Occasionally corrective surgery is also recommended.

If you intend to prevent or control periodontal disease, you must brush and floss your teeth to remove mouth bacteria responsible for causing gum disease. You must also visit the Houston dentist at least once yearly for exams or more frequently if you notice the warning signs or risk factors described above.

Periodontal disease is entirely preventable and reversible if detected early. Maintaining excellent dental hygiene and scheduling regular visits to your dentist are the only necessities to prevent this condition from infecting your gums to become a lifelong companion because while you can receive treatment for advanced periodontal disease from periodontics in Houston, TX, a cure for this condition is it undiscovered. Therefore you should prevent periodontal disease from affecting you by brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing them once, and getting six monthly dental cleanings from dentists to eliminate plaque and tartar constantly forming on your teeth. If you neglect the fundamentals of dental hygiene practices, you become a victim of a condition that progresses silently until you start losing teeth or become prone to other health conditions.

The Dentists at 650 Heights receive many patients affected by the periodontal disease to provide periodontal therapy at their practice. They advise patients to watch out for the risk factors mentioned in this article to prevent this condition from affecting them. If you notice the risk factors on your teeth, kindly contact them to receive treatment immediately to inhibit the progress of the periodontal disease.

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