
Does periodontal disease increase with age?
According to the CDC, periodontal disease increased with age. In fact, 70.1% of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease. However, age is only one of the risk factors of periodontal disease.
Are You at risk for periodontal disease?
8.52% of adults age 20 to 64 have periodontal disease. In fact, this condition is the most common cause of tooth loss among adults. By understanding the risk factors for periodontal disease, you can protect yourself and your teeth. Otherwise, your poor oral hygiene could leave you with a serious gum infection.
Why is periodontal disease a disease of the poor?
Socioeconomic Factors. Periodontal disease is considered a disease of the poor. Low income population, ethnic minorities and the elderly show the higher incidence of gum disease, mainly due to lack of access to dental health care and dental insurance.
What are the risk factors for gum disease?
Combined with an existing gum disease problem, teeth grinding and clenching can cause the faster destruction of periodontal tissues. Obesity could be a potential risk factor for periodontal disease especially among younger individuals.

What is the main risk factor to periodontal disease?
It's usually the result of poor oral hygiene. Brushing at least twice a day, flossing daily and getting regular dental checkups can greatly improve your chances of successful treatment for periodontitis and can also reduce your chance of developing it.
Why does periodontal disease increase with age?
Results: Changes in the susceptibility to periodontitis with age may be explained by exposure to pro-inflammatory conditions and changes in the healing capacity of cells and tissues. Due to accumulated periodontal destruction, the number of surfaces at risk for caries increases.
Can you get periodontal disease at 21?
While periodontitis is more common in older adults, even younger people can have it. You don't have to panic if your gums bleed, but it's something to feel concerned about. In case you do notice signs of periodontal disease, it's best to get in touch with your dentist as soon as possible.
Does aging cause gum recession?
Gum tissue naturally recedes with age, so the soft root tissue becomes exposed. In addition, adults who grew up before the advent of fluoride products and dental sealants often have fillings from childhood and adolescence that eventually break down. Decay around the edges of those fillings is also a problem.
How common is periodontal disease in seniors?
A high percentage of older adults have gum disease. About 2 in 3 (68%) adults aged 65 years or older have gum disease. Tooth loss. Nearly 1 in 5 of adults aged 65 or older have lost all of their teeth.
How common is periodontal in 20s?
"That a quarter of patients in their 20s had periodontal problems with no symptoms was a surprise to us since most people assumed that you don't get periodontal problems until you are 35 or 40," says White in a news release.
Can you have periodontitis at 22?
Gum disease isn't something that only happens to older people. Teens can get it too. Gum disease, also known as periodontal (pronounced: pair-ee-oh-DON-tul) disease, can cause problems from bad breath to pain and tooth loss.
Is early periodontitis reversible?
Periodontitis can't be reversed, only slowed down, while gingivitis can be reversed. This is why it's important to catch it in its early stages and prevent it from moving on to periodontitis. Below are some ways you can reverse gingivitis so it doesn't progress into something more serious.
What are the histological changes that happens to the Periodontium in aging?
Oral mucosa becomes thinner, smooth and looses stippling aspect with aging. From histological standpoint appears: narrowing and alteration of gingival epithelium, modification of epithelial-connective interface and decreasing of keratinization.
How does age affect oral health?
Dental conditions associated with aging include dry mouth (xerostomia), root and coronal caries, and periodontitis; patients may show increased sensitivity to drugs used in dentistry, including local anesthetics and analgesics.
How does chronic periodontitis progress?
The cumulative outcomes of chronic periodontitis become more apparent with increased age. These outcomes include alveolar bone loss, pocket formation in the gums, and detachment and loss of the teeth.
How fast does periodontal disease progress?
The progression of periodontal disease is slow but steady. It only takes four days for plaque to reach its maximum extent, so you'll be able to physically see signs of gingivitis on day 5. Advanced stages of this disease can be seen in as little as a few weeks if you have not tried to reverse the gingivitis.
What percentage of adults have periodontal disease?
8.52% of adults age 20 to 64 have periodontal disease. In fact, this condition is the most common cause of tooth loss among adults. By understanding the risk factors for periodontal disease, you can protect yourself and your teeth. Otherwise, your poor oral hygiene could leave you with a serious gum infection.
How many people have periodontal disease?
According to the CDC, periodontal disease increased with age. In fact, 70.1% of adults 65 years and older have periodontal disease. However, age is only one of the risk factors of periodontal disease.
Why are my gums so sensitive to gum disease?
Hormonal changes, including pregnancy, menopause, and puberty are risk factors for periodontal disease as well. These changes impact the tissues in your body, such as your gums. As a result, your gums might become more susceptible to gum disease. Stress and certain medications can also put you at risk.
How to tell if you have periodontitis?
A few indicators of periodontitis include: 1 Puffy or swollen gums 2 Bad breath 3 Loose teeth 4 Bright red or purplish gums 5 Gums that feel tender at contact 6 Gums that bleed easily 7 Receding gums (which make your teeth appear longer) 8 New spaces between your teeth 9 Pus between your teeth and gums 10 Painful chewing 11 Changes to how your teeth fit together when you bite down
Why does my gum hurt?
Maybe you’ve started experiencing extreme gum pain. Without proper care, bacteria can eat at your teeth, causing these issues and more. Periodontitis, or periodontal disease, is a serious gum infection. This inflammatory condition often begins with gingivitis, which is a bacterial infection that impacts your gum tissue.
What are the symptoms of periodontitis?
A few indicators of periodontitis include: Puffy or swollen gums. Bad breath. Loose teeth. Bright red or purplish gums. Gums that feel tender at contact. Gums that bleed easily.
What causes teeth to loosen?
Bacteria can eat away at soft tissue and destroy the bone supporting your teeth. This, in time, can cause your teeth to loosen.
What causes periodontal disease?
Other factors increasing the risk of developing periodontal disease: 1 Bridges that no longer fit properly trap food debris and allow dental plaque to accumulate and grow between the crown and gums 2 Malocclusion - Crooked teeth make difficult the removal of dental plaque 3 Dry mouth helps bacterial growth by increasing the level of mouth’s pH due to reduced flow of saliva that plays a regulatory role. 4 Mouth breathing can cause dry mouth increasing the risk of gum disease
What causes gum disease?
These hereditary causes of gum disease involve several immune system defects that reduce the body’s ability to fight the anaerobic bacteria responsible for causing plaque and periodontal disease. Genetic causes are also linked with some rare early onset ...
What causes swelling and tenderness in the gums?
High levels of progesterone increase the blood flow and fluid retention of the gingival tissues causing swelling, irritation and tenderness of the gums . The inflammation of the gums in combination with poor oral hygiene can cause severe periodontal disease.
Why does dry mouth cause gum disease?
Dry mouth helps bacterial growth by increasing the level of mouth’s pH due to reduced flow of saliva that plays a regulatory role. Mouth breathing can cause dry mouth increasing the risk of gum disease.
What is the term for the pain of the gums?
Menopause. Menopause is linked to a painful condition called desquamative gingivitis, where the outer layers of the gums separate from the underlying tissue, exposing nerve endings. The gums become so loose that the outer layers can be easily rubbed away.
Is obesity a risk factor for periodontal disease?
Obesity could be a potential risk factor for periodontal disease especially among younger individuals.
Can gum disease cause periodontal disease?
Patients genetically susceptible to gum disease may experience periodontal health problems even if they have good oral hygiene habits. Identification through genetic testing that a patient is in this high risk group should be followed by early interventive treatment to help them keep their teeth.
Which age group has the highest rate of periodontal disease?
Studies indicate that older people have the highest rates of periodontal disease. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that over 70% of Americans 65 and older have some form of gum disease.
Can gum disease be genetic?
Research has indicated that some people may be genetically susceptible to gum disease. Despite diligent at-home oral care habits, these people may be more likely to develop periodontal disease.
How many people have periodontal disease?
Over half of the adult population has gingivitis, a less severe form of periodontal disease surrounding three to four teeth, and nearly 30% have significant periodontal disease. In a study of people over 70 years old, 86% had at least moderate periodontitis or a severe form of periodontal disease, and over one-fourth of this 86% had lost their teeth. The study also showed that the disease accounted for a majority of tooth extractions in patients older than 35 years of age.[5,6]
How does risk assessment help with periodontal disease?
This can have a significant impact on clinical decision making. Risk assessment reduces the need for complex periodontal therapy, improve patient outcome and, ultimately, reduce oral health care cost. The awareness of risk factors also helps with the identification and treatment of co-morbidities in the general population as many periodontal disease risk factors are common to other chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
What are the genetic markers of periodontal disease?
In recent years, genetic markers have become available to determine various genotypes of patients regarding their susceptibility to periodontal diseases. Research on the Interleukin-1 (IL-1) polymorphisms has indicated that IL-1 genotype-positive patients show more advanced periodintitis lesion that IL-1 genotype-negative patients of the same age group. Also there is a trend to higher tooth loss in the IL-1 genotype-positive subjects. In a retrospective analysis of over 300 well-maintained periodontal patients, the IL-1 genotype yield higher BOP% during a 1-year recall period than the IL-1 genotype-negative control patients. This supports the theory that specific environmental factors can be strong risk factors and that they overwhelm any genetically determined susceptibility or resistance to disease.[15,16]
What is a risk indicator?
A risk indicator is a factor that is biologically plausible as a causative agent for a disease but has only been shown to be associated with disease in cross-sectional studies. An example of a risk indicator of periodontal disease is the presence of herpes viruses in subgingival plaque. A risk predictor is a factor that has no current biological plausibility as a causative agent but has been associated with disease on a cross-sectional or longitudinal basis. Example, the number of missing teeth is a risk predictor for disease, but has little or no plausibility as a causative agent for periodontitis.[3]
When is mouth level risk assessment performed?
Mouth-level risk assessment would be performed at the initial examination, after a basic periodontal examination, and would include:
Is periodontal disease multifactorial?
One of the problems with risk assessment in periodontal disease is that the diseases are multifactorial and assessment should therefore be at multiple levels. The presence of pathogenic bacteria alone is not sufficient to cause the disease. In simple terms, there are four levels to consider:
Is periodontal disease associated with low birth weight?
Periodontal disease has been shown to be associated with pre-term delivery and low birth weight, both of which put infants at risk of experiencing increased medical complications. Analysis of gingival crevicular fluid has demonstrated significantly higher levels of the inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E2 in women who delivered pre-term low birth weight infants. However, other research has failed to demonstrate a link between pre-term low birth weight babies and periodontal disease.[17,18]
What Is Periodontal Disease
Symptoms
- If you’re unsure whether or not you’ve developed periodontal disease, visit your dentist. In the meantime, take a look at your gums. They should remain firm and fit snugly around your teeth. Before we discuss the risk factors for periodontal disease, let’s review the symptoms. A few indicators of periodontitis include: 1. Puffy or swollen gums 2. Bad breath 3. Loose teeth 4. Brig…
Causes
- Periodontal disease often begins when plaque forms around your teeth. Plaque is a sticky film that’s mainly composed of bacteria. Plaque builds when sugars and starches interact with the bacteria in your mouth. If you fail to brush your teeth, plaque can form around your teeth and harden until it becomes tartar. Tartar is more difficult to remove without a professional’s help. T…
Risk Factors
- According to the CDC, periodontal disease increased with age. In fact, 70.1% of adults65 years and older have periodontal disease. However, age is only one of the risk factors of periodontal disease. Other risk factors include: 1. Hormonal changes (sometimes caused by pregnancy or menopause) 2. Genetics 3. Inadequate nutrition 4. Substance abuse 5....
Prevention & Treatment
- Periodontal disease can become worse as the bacteria between your gums and teeth fills. If you schedule regular dentist appointments, there’s a chance you can catch the disease at its early stage, gingivitis. A few regular cleanings can clear up the bacteria. If the disease progresses to periodontitis, you’ll need a periodontal cleaning. This type of cleaning is called scaling and root p…
Happier, Healthier Smiles: Risk Factors For Periodontal Disease & More
- Don’t ignore the risk factors for periodontal disease. Instead, speak with your dentist for tips for early prevention. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with this painful, costly condition—and risk losing your beautiful smile. Need to schedule a check-up? Contact us today!