Periodontal Disease Risk Factors
Periodontal disease can develop with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing periodontal disease. If you have a number of risk factors, call us to schedule an appointment. We can advise you on what you can do to reduce your risk.
Lifestyle Factors
- Smoking – Smoking greatly increases your risk of developing periodontal disease. It also greatly reduces the chance that treatments for periodontal disease will be effective.
- Poor nutrition – An unhealthy diet (eg, one that is high in fat and low in vitamin C ) can increase your chance of periodontal disease.
- Stress – Stress can hamper your body’s ability to fight off the infection that prompts periodontal disease.
Conditions
- Diabetes
- In girls and women: conditions that cause changes in hormone levels (i.e. Puberty, Pregnancy and Menopause)
- Cancer
- HIV/AIDS
- Osteoporosis
- Herpes infections
- Autoimmune diseases
- Down syndrome
- Wegener’s granulomatosis
- Amyloidosis
- Tuberculosis
- Syphilis
Medications
Taking certain medications can increase your risk of developing periodontal disease, such as:
- Birth control pills
- Antidepressants
- Heart medicines
- Seizure medications
- Chemotherapy
- Medications used to treat AIDS
- Immunosuppressant medications
Age
Your risk of developing periodontal disease increases as you age:
- 25% of people between 30-44 years, 40% of people between 45-54 years & 50% of people between 65-74 years have at least mild periodontitis
Sex
Females are more likely than men to develop periodontitis, probably because of hormonal changes that women experience throughout their life cycle.
Genetic Factors
Studies have shown that there seems to be a genetic tendency for certain people to develop periodontitis.
Race
African Americans and people of Hispanic origin have a higher rate of periodontitis than do Caucasian Americans.
Other Factors
Other factors that may increase your risk of periodontitis include:
- Living in poverty
- Poor dental hygiene
- Having badly fitting dentures and/or uneven fillings or crowns
- Being a habitual mouth breathing