Austin Periodontal Disease Risk Factors
Common Risk Factors for Periodontal Disease
- Tobacco use – cigarette and smokeless
- Genetics – Did your mother and/or father have significant disease?
- Immune deficiencies – either primary or secondary to diseases like diabetes mellitus or medications
- Poor home care – or lack of professional dental care
- Diets – low in nutritive value and high in sugar/non-complex carbohydrates contribute to plaque proliferation
- Dry mouth (Xerostomia) – either due to autoimmune disease or many common prescription medications (your saliva not only helps clear your mouth when you swallow, it also contains antibodies which attack bacteria)