Gum disease is one of the most painful dental issues ever. Besides experiencing pain, you will have red and swollen gums, pus between the gum and teeth, loose teeth, and bad breath. If you do not address the disease immediately, you will soon become toothless. Thankfully, you can prevent that from happening by consulting a gum disease el Paso specialist. We have seen how lethal the disease is, and you may wonder what things cause it. Without further ado, here are factors that contribute to gum disease below.

Hormonal Changes

Women are likely to be affected by these changes, which lead to gum disease. That is because female hormones like estrogen and progesterone cause more blood to flow toward the gums. As a result, the gums become sensitive to any slight impact.

A woman cannot get rid of the hormones, but she can reduce her chances of getting gum disease. All you need to do is brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste and floss once daily.

Smoking

Since most smoking happens within the mouth, it is no surprise that you can get gum disease. It affects the teeth’s soft tissue and your attachment to the bones. The habit interferes with gum tissue cells, making you susceptible to infections. Furthermore, it hinders the flow of blood within the gum.

The only solution to prevent gum disease is by kicking this habit. You can reduce tobacco cravings through nicotine replacement therapy and chewing on anything to engage your mouth.

Pre-existing Conditions

One of the conditions that cause gum disease is diabetes. If you get the dental disorder, your body will have a challenge regulating blood sugar levels. As long as you manage your diabetes, you will not get the disease. You can control the disease by losing extra weight and eating healthy plant foods.

Another condition that puts you at risk of contracting gum disease is HIV. This illness weakens your immune system, which puts you at risk of contracting the dental issue. Besides gum disease, you will also get other oral issues, such as mouth sores and infections.

Using Certain Medications

Some drugs, such as antidepressants and antihistamines, reduce the amount of saliva in the mouth. Due to insufficient saliva, the tissues in the mouth will get inflamed and irritated. As a result, that increases your risk of getting gum disease. Each time you take these drugs, ensure you drink plenty of water to keep your mouth wet.

Other drugs, such as Adalat and Dilantin, may trigger abnormal growth of gum tissue. You will get a misaligned teeth arrangement if the growth is not addressed.

Hereditary Factors

A common hereditary gum disease that people contract is aggressive periodontitis. This disease causes bones around the teeth to be loose.

Just because the illness can be hereditary, it does not mean you cannot do anything about it. You can reduce the chance of getting it by flossing and replacing your toothbrush every 1-3 months.

Conclusion

As you have seen, you can take preventive measures to avoid contracting gum disease. What happens, though, if you get it? You do not need to worry since dentists can treat it. They usually treat it through oral antibiotics such as mouth rinses or gels. If the gum disease is severe, dentists can consider surgical means such as bone grafting, flap surgery, or guided tissue regeneration. Since going to the dentist can be expensive, you should always practice oral hygiene.