Many risk factors are due to the environment or they are the result of personal behavior. That means they can be changed and that dental and oral diseases might be preventable in some cases.

Some risk factors you can control:

Diet

Foods that are high in sugar and starch promote decay.

Stress

Grinding or clenching your teeth may loosen your teeth and increase your risk for infection and gum disease and tooth loss.

Children's Habits

A child's habits such as sucking his thumb, using a pacifier, or grinding his teeth at night can affect the development of his teeth and gums.

Tobacco

Smoking is a major risk factor for gum disease. Smokers are much more likely than non-smokers to have calculus form on their teeth, have deeper pockets between the teeth and gums, and lose more of the bone and tissue that support the teeth. In fact, smoking can cause receding gums and bone loss and speed progression of gum disease.

Drug or alcohol abuse

Drugs and alcohol can cause dry mouth which promotes decay. They also contribute to stress, which can lead to bruxism. In addition, people who abuse drugs and alcohol tend not to practice good dental hygiene.

Medical problems

Diabetes, osteoporosis, inflammatory bowel disease, Down's syndrome and AIDS are just some of the conditions that make people more susceptible to gum disease. Gum disease may make it more difficult for diabetics to control their blood sugar. If you have diabetes, are a smoker, and are 45 or older, you are 20 times more likely to get severe gum disease. If you have osteoporosis, the loss of minerals can make bones supporting the teeth more vulnerable to infection and increase the risk of gum disease and tooth loss.

Some risk factors you cannot control:

Family history

Heredity is a risk factor in many patients with periodontal disease. Scientists believe that some people have inherited minor defects in their immune systems, making it easier to develop gum disease. The bacteria that cause gum disease are in the saliva and can pass from one person to another. If one family member has gum disease, all family members should be tested. In the United States, African-Americans and Mexican-Americans have a slightly higher risk of developing periodontal disease than Caucasians. African-American and Mexican-American males have the highest incidence.

Drinking water

What was the quality of the drinking water when you were growing up? Did it contain fluoride? Many communities have fluoride added to their drinking water to help make teeth stronger and more resistant to tooth decay. People who live in areas where there is no fluoride in the water have a higher rate of tooth decay.

Medications

Some medications can cause staining, dry mouth, or other symptoms. Drugs such as steroids, birth control pills, anti-seizure drugs, blood pressure drugs, cancer-fighting drugs and heart medications can make you more susceptible to gum disease. So can medicines called immunosuppressants that reduce the body's natural defenses against foreign invaders or materials. Tell your dentist if you take any of these or other medications and follow his advice.

Gender

Anything that causes changes in the level of female sex hormones such as puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, menopause and birth control pills makes women more susceptible to gum disease because hormone changes make the gums more sensitive to irritants and plaque.

Age

Children and senior citizens have a higher risk of tooth decay. More than 90 percent of oral cancers occur in patients over the age of 45. The incidence increases steadily with age until 65, when the rate levels off.

To learn more:

Periodontal Disease: Risk Factors
(HealthAtoZ)

Check this site to determine if you are at risk for gum disease and to see a list of related articles about gum disease.

https://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?re
questURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/dc/caz/enth/peri/peri_gen_risk.jsp

Dental and Oral Health: Tooth Decay (Caries or Cavities)
(Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University Medical Center)

Find out all about tooth decay, its symptoms, risk factors, prevention, and treatment.

http://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=tooth-decay-caries-or-
cavities-in-children-90-P01848

Guide to Quitting Smokeless Tobacco
(American Cancer Society)

Learn how smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco and snuff) puts you at risk for oral cancer.

http://www.cancer.org/acs/groups/cid/documents/webcontent/acspc-035551-pdf.
pdf

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next » How can I lower my risk of dental and oral disease?

Written by: Judi Berry, B.F.A.
Reviewed by: Michael J. Engel, D.M.D.
Last Modified: Thursday February 06, 2014 7:00 PM