Tobacco
Smokers have higher incidence of moderate to advanced gum disease and bone loss. They have more deep gum pockets than non smokers and increased calculus (tartar) formation. Tobacco causes fibrotic changes in gums, which means blood flow to the gums is decreased. As a result, healing and regenerative capabilities of the gums are deficient. Early warning signs of gum disease (bleeding to gentle stimuli) are masked. Underlying disease can progress without signs, symptoms or other warnings. Laser gum care and gum surgery are less effective in smokers. Conventional gum care and higher frequency of professional, preventive care is recommended for smokers. Tissue effects of tobacco are cumulative, building up and increasing gradually. This is affected by quantity and duration of use. Smoking cessation may slow or halt the progression of gum disease.

Broken teeth or restorations
Broken teeth, defective or ill fitting restorations, crooked or crowded teeth, tilted or rotated teeth, and missing teeth all contribute to plaque retention and the advancement of gum disease.

Clenching or grinding teeth
These habits can accelerate the rate and degree of bone loss around teeth with gum disease. Forces of compression and tension mashing into infected tissues dramatically increase bone loss, soft tissue degeneration, and reduces the healing response. Splint therapy with recommended gum care is essential for optimal control of gum disease in this environment. Click here for more about bite disease.

Poor diet
Inadequate nourishment decreases the body's ability to fight infection. With efficient oral hygiene and appropriate professional dental care, a well nourished-healthy body should heal itself.

Pregnancy
Pregnant women having gum disease are 7 times more likely to have premature, low birth-weight babies. Hormonal changes, associated with pregnancy trigger an exaggerated inflammatory response in gums. Gums can become unusually red, tender, swollen and bleed easily. Dental examination and routine preventive care (including a cleaning) may be performed in the first trimester. During the first 3 months, one in five pregnancies will end in spontaneous abortion. Ideally, elective dental procedures should be postponed until after delivery. During the second trimester it is advisable to seek preventive, oral hygiene care. A cleaning can be performed. Any necessary dental treatment may also be
undertaken. At this stage the fetus is further developed and there is relative safety for minor care at this time. Always consult with your physician prior to scheduling any dental care. During the first half of the third trimester, minor preventive oral care may be scheduled.

Regular prescription medications
Many medications adversely affect the health of your mouth. Diuretics (water pills) may decrease flow of saliva. Dry mouth increases plaque build up which increases risk of tooth decay and gum disease. Dilantin (for seizures) and calcium channel - blocking agents (commonly prescribed for high blood pressure) may cause gums to grow over teeth. This contributes to gum disease. Steroids, cancer chemotherapy drugs and immunosuppressant drugs lower resistance to infections making gum disease more severe. These are a few examples of medications which increase your risk of gum disease. Monitoring your medications with physicians and dentists and updating changes in medications as they occur is important. Maintaining vigilant oral hygiene at home and following recommended professional dental care is vital. Remember: Tooth decay and gum disease are bacteria driven... which means: no bacteria - no problem. Recommended professional care combined with efficient plaque removal once every 24 hours will control tooth decay and gum disease.

Hormonal changes
Oral contraceptives and other hormone supplements can increase gum sensitivity to the toxins of plaque and accelerate growth of some bacteria. Pregnancy, puberty and menstrual cycles also increase plaque - induced gum inflammation. Gums can become red, tender, swollen and bleed easily.

Family history of gum disease or loss of teeth
A genetic predisposition toward early onset forms of gum disease has been proven. However, tooth decay and gum disease can be prevented even if you are genetically "programmed" to develop gum disease. Both tooth decay and gum disease is bacteria driven. Which means that disease is not possible when bacteria are absent. Efficient plaque removal once every 24 hours stops both gum disease and tooth decay... (even if mom and dad had dentures at 25!)

Systemic diseases (heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, osteoporosis)
Gum disease is known to release high levels of bacterial toxins into the bloodstream. These are the same toxins associated with cardiovascular disease. Toxins from gum disease enter the bloodstream and travel to the other organs (like the liver and heart) and may cause harm. Researchers have proven that gum disease releases these toxins directly into the bloodstream even during gentle chewing! After gentle chewing only 50 times, blood levels of toxins (from infected gum pockets) increased from 6% to 24%. Conclusion: Patients with moderate to advanced gum disease had 4 times more toxin in their blood after brief, gentle chewing.

Don't ignore your oral health

1. Because there is no known cure for gum disease early detection, treatment and ongoing care is of vital importance. It is easy to be unconcerned and unmotivated about a "silent" condition that you can not see or feel. A threat unperceived may seem like "a lot" about "nothing"... but a little bit of gum disease, unchecked, always leads to more.
2. Early, mild signs of gum disease are "silent", being difficult to feel or see in your own mouth. Sometimes the only way to detect this stage of disease is through a gum evaluation by your dentist.
3. If you already have heart disease, diabetes, respiratory disease, osteoporosis or if you are pregnant, ask your dentist if you have gum disease. Moderate to advanced gum disease with these conditions is a serious, proven threat to your health.