Most patients come in to the office and are a little nervous. Not due to the strange dental environment, not due to fear of the unknown, but fear of whether or not they have "mysteriously" picked up gum disease. Gum disease ,or periodontal disease, is something that has many factors that have to be in place to get he ball rolling.
First, you have to have the right dental environment for the bacterias to grow. So, neglecting regular check-ups and avoiding brushing and flossing( or waterpiking) around the gums because they bleed are great ways to let that bacteria flourish.
Second, you need to have certain bacteria present for the destruction of bone attachment to begin. This is the family component. There are tests available to detect these certain bacteria, but so far are unreliable as to if the patient will indeed develop gum disease.
Third, environmental factors play a roll. Most often it will be the patients overall health and whether or not they smoke. Smoking lets Perio disease run crazy. Those bugs love it!Now that you have a little info on this disease process, have regular check-ups. Brush two times a day and floss or waterpik. If you smoke, stop :) ! Hope this helps,
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