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| • | Poor oral hygiene. Ignoring any part of your oral hygiene routine, whether you skip out on the occasional brushing session, neglect to floss or your teeth, or avoid routine dental cleanings and exams, can greatly increase your risk for periodontal disease. |
| • | Poorly aligned teeth. Crooked teeth are more difficult to clean, leaving areas of your mouth that can easily accumulate plaque and bacteria. |
| • | Dry mouth. Also called xerostomia, dry mouth is a condition in which your mouth does not have enough saliva in it. Your saliva helps to kill and wash away bacteria. When your mouth is dry, though, it becomes a more hospitable environment for bacterial growth. Dry mouth has many causes, including alcohol use and certain types of medications. |
| • | Tobacco use. Cigarettes and other tobacco products slow your blood flow, which slows the delivery of essential nutrients to your gums. These products also affect your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight infections. |
| • | Hormonal changes. Changes in your hormones, which typically occur during pregnancy or menopause, can affect your immune system, leaving you more vulnerable. |
| • | Lacking certain nutrients. Your body, including your gums, requires many different nutrients to function properly. If you lack nutrients, you become more susceptible to infections. |
| • | Gums that are red and swollen. |
| • | Bleeding when you brush and floss. |
| • | Gum recession. |
| • | Small spaces appearing between your teeth. |
| • | Tooth sensitivity. |
| • | Chronic bad breath, or halitosis. |
| • | Loose teeth. |
| • | Tooth loss. |
| • | Prophylaxis. This is a regular cleaning, which can often help to stop the earliest stage of periodontal disease, also called gingivitis. |
| • | Scaling and root planing, or deep cleaning of the surfaces of your teeth both above and below the gumline. |
| • | Pocket reduction surgery, which is performed to clean your teeth when your periodontal pockets are too deep. |
| • | Osseous surgery. This procedure is performed when bacteria have caused bony defects in your jawbone. The procedure smooths your jawbone while also cleaning the surfaces of your teeth. |
| • | Soft tissue grafting. A soft tissue graft restores a healthy gumline following gum recession. |
| • | Bone grafts. A bone graft is performed when your jawbone has lost too much mass. It is often performed when your jawbone is too weak to provide support for Dental Implants following tooth loss. |
