Periodontist Long Island Shares 6 Risk Factors of Gum Disease

Periodontal disease attacks the soft tissue in your mouth affecting millions of Americans daily. The primary concern with gum disease is the inevitable tooth loss that follows when no treatment is received or improper preventative measures were followed. A recent study identified six risk factors for periodontal disease that better assist Periodontist Long Island with preventative medicine.

The study evaluated 1,775 patients who had 3,694 teeth extracted in an effort to determine commonalities between each patient’s lost teeth. What they found was that more teeth per patient was lost as a result of gum disease than any other cause with periodontal disease accounting for the majority of extracted teeth in patients over 35.

The six risk factors this study found include:

1. Age – where the majority of missing teeth in patients over 35 can be attributed to gum disease


2. Gender – with the greater proportion of patients who lost their teeth due to periodontal disease were men


3. Smoking – both current and past smokers accounted for 31 percent


4. Lack of professional maintenance – out of the total number of patients studied 39 percent of them stated that they had never had a periodontal visit


5. Inadequate oral hygiene – out of the patients evaluated only 16 percent reported brushing two or more times daily and 60 percent reported they either never brushed or used a tooth brush irregularly


6. Health factors - diabetes mellitus, hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis, and anterior tooth type

For Periodontists and patients alike this information can prove invaluable in developing preventative therapy for patients before periodontal disease presents a real problem in their patients’ mouths.

Regular brushing and flossing, keeping your regular dental appointments and adding in a regular periodontal exam will help keep you in the lead of harmful bacteria that causes gum disease. Additionally closely observe your mouth each day for early signs of gum disease including; red or swollen gums, persistent bad breath, loose teeth, and gums pulling away from your teeth.

If you’ve received a referral for a Periodontist Long Island Dr. Scharf treats gum disease with a laser, not a scalpel, for people who want an alternative to gum surgery call Dr. Scharf at 631-661-6633 or visit him on the web at http://drscharf.com.