|
While the primary cause for gingivitis is poor oral hygiene, certain medical conditions, intake of certain drugs, hormonal changes and tobacco could be risk factors for the occurrence of gingivitis.
Medical Conditions
• Diabetes - Elevated blood sugar levels can cause damage to many parts of your body including your teeth. Diabetes increases your risk of cavities, gingivitis, tooth loss and a variety of infections. People with type I and type II diabetes have 15 times higher risk of the infection compared to non diabetic population.
• Decreased immunity - A weakened immune system makes you more susceptible to infections of all kinds including gum infections. Acute herpetic gingivostomatitis is an infection caused by the herpes virus and usually leads to gum inflammation. Oral thrush, which results when a fungus normally found in your mouth grows out of control, can also spread to the gums and cause gingivitis
Hormonal Changes
Women are particularly susceptible to periodontal problems as female hormones affect the gums.
• Before Menstruation - Gingivitis may flare up in some women a few days before they menstruate when progesterone levels are high. Progesterone dilates blood vessels causing inflammation, and blocks the repair of collagen which is the structural protein that supports the gums.
• Pregnancy - During pregnancy, gum inflammation typically develops around the second month and reaches a peak in the eighth month. It usually resolves after delivery.
• Menopause - During menopause, some women may develop a rare condition called menopausal gingivostomatitis, in which the gums are dry, shiny, and bleed easily.
Tobacco
Smoking is the single major preventable risk factor for periodontal disease, and can cause bone loss and gum recession even in the absence of periodontal disease. A number of studies indicate that smoking and nicotine increase inflammation by reducing oxygen in gum tissue and triggering an over-production of immune factors called cytokines which in excess are harmful to cells and tissue.
Studies suggest that smokers are 11 times more likely than nonsmokers to harbor the bacteria that cause periodontal disease and four times more likely to have advanced periodontal disease.
Drugs and Medication
Many prescription and over-the-counter antidepressants and cold remedies contain ingredients that decrease your body's production of saliva leading to dry mouth. This leads to plaque and tartar build up. There are other drugs like anti-seizure medications, calcium channel blockers and drugs that suppress your immune system that can cause an overgrowth of gum tissue making it difficult to remove plaque.
Other Risk Factors
• Vitamin C Deficiencies - Vitamin C helps the body repair and maintains the connective tissue, and its antioxidant effects are important for tissue-destroying oxidants in periodontal disease. A study in 2000 found that people who consumed less than the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C were one and a half times more likely to develop severe gingivitis than those who consumed more than 180 mg of vitamin C per day.
• Ethnic, Socioeconomic, and Geographic Factors - Dental disease is most likely to affect the poor. Children and the elderly suffer the worst followed by ethnic minorities follow.
• Misaligned teeth, rough edges of fillings, and ill fitting or unclean dental appliances such as orthodontic appliances, dentures, bridges, and crowns can increase the risk of gingivitis. Birth control pills and ingestion of heavy metals such as lead and bismuth are also associated with gingivitis. |
