While teeth are crucial to your oral health, that doesn’t mean you can neglect your gums. These special mouth tissues will get infected if you aren’t careful enough, putting your whole grin at risk. That being said, how do you reduce your odds of such an infection? Your Catonsville dentist is here to address this question, so don’t worry. Just keep reading to learn about four major risk factors for gum disease and how to manage them.
Genetics
People can inherit more than simply height, hair color, and complexion from their parents. In some cases, their genes can make them more susceptible to gum disease.
It all has to do with the human immune system. Depending on your genes, your body may respond strongly or weakly to harmful mouth bacteria. That means the DNA from your mom and dad could hamper your immune response to oral infections. As such, ask your folks if your family has a history of gum disease, and have your dentist monitor your gums.
Poor Oral Hygiene
If you want to avoid gum disease, keep your smile clean. Poor oral hygiene is a major risk factor for this dental issue.
The truth is that plaque can naturally spread and grow below the gumline. When it does, toxins from bacteria can eventually irritate your gums until an infection develops. You should thus try to brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes, as well as clean between them with dental floss or similar tools. These habits will remove the plaque that gathers near and around your gums.
Systemic Diseases
Honestly, the state of your body is another point to consider. Systemic diseases can greatly elevate your risk of gum disease.
Due to their nature, many diseases disrupt your immune system’s ability to prevent gum infections. Notable examples include diabetes, heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other chronic conditions. It follows that you should share your medical history with your dentist, as they can judge whether your illnesses are impacting your oral health.
Medications
Even your medications can become risk factors for gum disease. Depending on which ones you take, you might be more or less likely to get infected gums.
Indeed, research shows that various drugs can affect oral health. Certain anti-depressants and heart medicines reduce saliva flow, ensuring more plaque will gather on your gums. Others prompt hormonal changes that alter your immune response, making infections more likely. You’ll want to inform your periodontist of your medications, given these facts.
While many risk factors for gum disease exist, they aren’t all-powerful. Use the tips above (and help from your dentist) to manage them going forward.
About the Practice
Advanced Dental Clinic is based in Catonsville, MD. Led by Dr. Maryam Bemani, our practice offers every patient the personalized care they deserve. We thus offer preventive, cosmetic, and even restorative dental services, all tailored to your smile’s unique needs. Our office can also treat gum disease with high-quality scaling and root planing, as well as other methods. For more details or to book a visit, please contact us on our website or by phone at (443)-251-5580.