90% of the population are estimated to suffer
from a form of gum disease at some stage in their
life. The most common cause of gum disease is bad
oral hygiene, however certain groups are more at
risk. Those people most at risk of gum disease
include:
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| Women and teenage girls
are more at risk of developing gum disease
because of the many hormonal changes they
experience such as puberty, the menopause,
as well as taking oral contraceptives and
having monthly periods. During all of these
times, the body experiences hormonal changes
that make gums sensitive. |
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| During pregnancy,
a woman experiences a whole nine months
of hormonal changes which make the gums
much more sensitive than usual and more
susceptible to bleeding – a well-known,
common ailment experienced during pregnancy.
Recent research has also shown that gum
disease may be responsible for an increase
in the likelihood of giving birth prematurely. |
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| Smoking increases
bacterial plaque whilst reducing the
delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the
gums and generates “free radicals” which
delay the healing process, thus making
the gums more susceptible to infection.
Research shows that smoking causes 50%
of all gum disease cases. |
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| Gum disease is often considered
the sixth complication of diabetes. This is
because when blood sugar levels are poorly
controlled, blood glucose levels rise and the
higher levels of sugar in the mouth help harmful
germs to grow. People with diabetes can also
be more susceptible to contracting infections
including infections of the gums. It is therefore
vital that the first signs of gum disease are
treated as wounds and infections may take longer
to heal and can increase the risk of diabetic
complications, thus creating a “vicious” circle. |
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| Research shows that stress can make it more
difficult for our bodies to fight gum disease. |
Other Risk Factors
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| Researchers have found that people with gum
disease are almost twice as likely to suffer
from heart disease as those without gum disease.
There are two theories for this, one is that
bacteria in the mouth can enter the blood vessels
and attach to fatty plaques, causing clot formation
which can obstruct blood flow and may lead
to a heart attack. The second theory is that
inflammation caused by gum disease increases
plaque build up, which may contribute to the
swelling of the arteries. |
Stroke |
| Studies have highlighted that people diagnosed
with acute cerebrovascular ischemia were more
likely to have an oral infection when compared
to those in a controlled group. |
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