Causes of Gum Disease
Genetic susceptibility + bacteria = inflammation
Some people are more susceptible to gum disease than others, but bacteria are always involved.
Contributing factors - Things that can exacerbate your existing susceptibility:
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Some medications
- Stress
- Poor nutrition
- Pregnancy
- History of orthodontic treatment
It is important to recognise that, without the plaque, periodontitis will not occur, however some factors can worsen its effects.
Risk factors, such as smoking or diabetes weaken our body’s defences further and speed up the disease process. In the same way, certain drugs, such as blood pressure, some heart disease and epilepsy medication, cause overgrowth of the gums which can make it more difficult to clean the area effectively.
Stages of gum disease
The more plaque and calculus we see, the more inflammation occurs, the further the attachment and bone resorb down the root.
Prognosis
Periodontitis is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults.
If the progress of periodontal inflammation is not controlled, the supporting
structures of the teeth, including the surrounding bone, are damaged. The teeth
eventually loosen or require extraction. Other problems you may experience
include painful abscesses, drifting of the teeth which may interfere with eating, and unsightly lengthening of the teeth with exposure of the roots, as a result of gum recession.
As a rule I try to save every tooth. There may be some situations, for example where the tooth is badly affected but not functional, or likely to cause you pain or problems eating, that we may agree to extract the tooth.
…I believe that there is nothing better than our own natural teeth, and put all of my energy into saving as may as possible!