Gum Disease And Periodontal Disease

Periodontal Disease also referred to as Gum Disease is an infection in the mouth that can damage gum tissue and the support system around teeth including bone and nerves. Gum Disease is caused by bacteria in the dental plaque that causes inflammation and bleeding of the gums. Gum disease has many stages ranging from mild to necrotizing. There are two common forms of bacteria that are found in the mouths of individuals with gum disease and those are T.Denticola and P. Gingivalis. Over 75% of the United States population is infected with some form of gum disease. If left untreated, gum disease can lead to eventual tooth loss and contribute to other systemic issues within the body because of the bacteria in the mouth. There are many factors that can lead to or attribute to gum disease such as poor oral hygiene and even genetics. People are under the misconception that gum disease is actually caused by simply not brushing and flossing however various studies indicate that there are other factors that can initiate the onset of the

According to the CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the chances for gum disease grow larger with age and data shows that 70.1% of adults aged 65 years or older suffer from periodontal disease (CDC, 2015). 47% of adults that are 30 years of age or older have some form of periodontal disease, (CDC, 2015).

Smoking Smoking or nicotine use is a major risk factor for gum disease. The use of tobacco products is not only linked with lung cancer, heart disease, and a host of other health problems but also with the onset of gum disease. 41.9% of periodontal cases in adults within the US were connected to current cigarette smokers and 10.9% of cases were connected to former smokers. In current smokers, 74.8% of their periodontal issues were directly related to their smoking (Journal of Periodontology, May 2000).