The Causes of Gum Disease

If you think that you might be suffering from gum disease, there are certainly factors that if prevalent in your life, will dramatically increase your chances of getting gum disease.

Gum disease is caused by the build up of plaque in the mouth along the base of the teeth, where the tooth root meets the gum. If left untreated this plaque turns to tartar, rotting the root of the teeth and causing the gum to recede.

In worst case scenarios, gum disease can cause the gum to rot so badly that teeth fall out. However, a diligent dental hygiene routine can prevent this from happening.

That said there are certain factors that will contribute to the onset of gum disease. One of the worst offenders is smoking. That’s because smoking restricts the flow of oxygen to the cells and this has harmful effects on the gum. Smoking also prohibits nutrients from being properly absorbed into the blood stream, which makes it more difficult for the body to fight infection.

The fact is that in the last few decades we have all become much more aware of the potential side-effects of smoking and anyone who smokes now does so at their own risk. As well as cancer and emphysema, smoking also puts smokers at serious risk for getting gum disease.

Many of us clench our teeth when we are stressed or grind our teeth in our sleep. Although these things may seem harmless enough they can actually do serious damage to both tooth enamel and the gum line. Both cause teeth to move around and loosen. If gums have already been weakened by a build up of plaque, the added friction caused by grinding can speed up the effects of gum disease.

Sufferers of diabetes are also at risk from gum disease. Diabetes is a disease that affects blood sugar levels and as sugar is one of the factors that contributes to gum disease, the two are closely linked.

It is also possible to be genetically more likely to develop gum disease. However, it is relatively easy to ascertain whether or not gum disease is prevalent in your family by asking family members. If many have suffered from it, it’s best to take preventative action sooner rather than later.

One way to take preventative action is to reduce the amount of stress in day-to-day life. In fact stress is considered to be another contributing factor to gum disease because it weakens the immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to increased levels of infections.