Considering that February is the National Gum Disease Awareness month, at Country Club Dental in Flagstaff, we thought we’d share some of the common gum disease risk factors and how you can do your best to mitigate these risks.
Warning Signs of Gum Disease
When gums are healthy they appear pink and firm and shouldn’t cause any discomfort. But gum disease can be difficult for the average person to identify and address with their dentist, since it’s not always accompanied by pain or obvious signs. This often leads a patient to allow the gum disease to worsen before it’s treated.
Some signs that gum disease (periodontal disease) may have developed include:
- Bleeding gums, often noticeable while brushing and flossing
- Red, swollen, or tender gums
- Gums that pull away from your teeth
- New spaces developing between your teeth
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth
- Pus between your gums and teeth
- Pain while chewing
Common Gum Disease Risk Factors
The occurrence of gum disease often involves a combination of certain risk factors that are both under your control and outside of your control. Common gum disease risk factors include:
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Genetics
- Age
- Unbalanced nutrition
- Poor oral hygiene
- Stress
- Clenching or grinding your teeth
- Certain medications
- Hormonal changes (ex: pregnancy or menopause)
- Immunocompromisation
- Previous history of gum disease
That being said, not all risk factors pose the same threat to your oral health. Diabetes and tobacco use (smoking or chewing) have overwhelmingly been shown to be the greatest contributors to gum disease. When multiple risk factors are at play, your risk for gum disease increases.
How Do These Risk Factors Impact Gum Health?
The risk factors of gum disease operate in two ways:
- They provide an environment where increased biofilm levels can flourish.
- They impair the body’s ability to respond to an increase in biofilm activity.
What is biofilm? It’s the thin layer of bacteria that covers your tongue, teeth, and gums, AKA plaque. While you eat or drink, harmful bacteria in your mouth consume carbohydrates and sugar that combine to produce that sticky substance (plaque).
Regular brushing and flossing are often enough to rid the mouth of the majority of plaque buildup. However, the presence of risk factors that increase the production of plaque or impair the body’s ability to respond to an increased bacterial challenge can lead to a greater risk for gum disease.
Minimize Your Risk!
As your local Flagstaff dentist, in order to minimize your risk for gum disease we highly recommend you maintain an excellent daily oral hygiene routine, resist smoking, and eat a balanced diet that isn’t too high in carbs and includes necessary vitamins like C and D.
Call us today to schedule a biannual cleaning or checkup: 928-526-4314.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use. Photo by Антон Воробьев on Unsplash (2/11/2019)
