When you hear gum disease or periodontal disease, you may think it’s a disease that only affects older adults! Maybe you’ve heard from the CDC that 70.1% of adults 65 years or older have gum disease so you think you shouldn’t have to worry about it for a few more decades.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case! Young adults are absolutely at risk of developing gum disease. During your early adult years — and even in your teenage years — if you don’t commit to a strong oral hygiene routine, you could be harboring disease-causing bacteria in your mouth!
It’s important to know the risks and causes of gum disease, and how to prevent it, so you can keep your natural, healthy gums for life! Here’s what you need to know:
What causes gum disease?
Gum disease develops when plaque, food particles, and bacteria build up beneath your gum line. This is ultimately caused by an insufficient oral hygiene routine.
As bacteria continues to build up, it forms pockets of infection between your gums and tooth roots. These pockets are essentially bacteria reserves. Without proper care and treatment, the gum infection will progress – the pockets grow larger and the periodontal tissues start to deteriorate, causing the gums to recede from your teeth and expose your tooth roots.
As gum disease advances into the later stages, your teeth start to loosen from their place as supporting periodontal tissues wither away. Gums recede drastically. The jawbones start to deteriorate as the infection penetrates deeper into the bone. Teeth even begin to fall out in the advanced stage of gum disease – periodontitis. In fact, the leading cause of tooth loss is actually gum disease! Yikes! We want to avoid these later stages at all costs.
As gum disease advances it becomes irreversible, and treatments such as periodontal regeneration surgery, dental implants, and periodontal pocket (flap and osseous) surgery become necessary to replace damaged tissues and teeth. This is why it’s so important to stop gum disease before it begins or progresses!
What are the risk factors of gum disease?
You can develop gum disease at any age, for a number of reasons, but poor hygiene habits are at the top of the list! Most risk factors of gum disease are preventable, so it’s important to be aware of them. Here are just a few of the risk factors of gum disease in young adults:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Stress
- Poor nutrition
- Genetics (yes, gum disease is hereditary!)
How can I prevent gum disease?
The best way to prevent gum disease as a young adult is to build a strong oral hygiene routine – simply brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily can go a long way!
When your gums become increasingly sensitive, it’s a sign that they’re irritated and vulnerable to the first stage of gum disease, gingivitis. If you notice your gums turning bright red, swelling, or bleeding when you brush or floss, it’s time to kick your oral hygiene habits into overdrive!
- Don’t go to sleep without brushing and flossing your teeth.
- Use an antibacterial mouthwash once or twice daily. Here are a few mouthwashes specially made to target gum disease bacteria: Pro-Health Gum and Breath Purify Mouthwash, TheraBreath™ Healthy Gums Oral Rinse, or Listerine® Gum Therapy Antiplaque & Antigingivitis Mouthwash
- Visit your dentist for a professional cleaning every 6 months.
- Eat a balanced diet and avoid overloading on sugary, sweet, and sticky foods.
- Kick poor habits! Smoking, chewing tobacco, and vaping can restrict blood flow to your gums making them susceptible to infection.
- Keep a travel-sized toothbrush with you to brush your teeth after meals. This will prevent plaque and food particles from building up under your gum line.
Is gingivitis curable?
There are different stages of gum disease, starting with stage 1: gingivitis. The symptoms of gingivitis include bright red gums, sore or tender gums, swollen gums and bleeding when brushing or flossing (for more than 5 consecutive days.) If you notice any irritation, inflammation or bleeding in your gums, it’s likely gingivitis.
The good news is — yes! Gingivitis is curable. It’s important to be aware of these symptoms, so you can catch the disease in its earliest development. Here’s how to reverse gingivitis and restore healthy gums:
- Kick your oral hygiene routine into overdrive! Don’t miss a single brushing or flossing. Brush thoroughly in the morning, then rinse with an antibacterial mouthwash formulated to kill gingivitis-causing bacteria. See the list above, under “how to prevent gum disease”! Brush your teeth at night, then floss them thoroughly, followed by another mouthwash rinse.
- Consider brushing and/or rinsing your teeth after meals. The best way to treat gingivitis asap is to maintain a clean, debris-free smile throughout the day. It’s a good idea to clean your teeth after meals to ensure that. Consider carrying a travel toothbrush and toothpaste around, if you’re away from home throughout the day, to commit to quick, regular cleanings.
- Visit your periodontist! We are your periodontist in Tampa and New Port Richey/Trinity, here to help you keep healthy, natural gums for a lifetime. If you’re noticing signs of gum disease, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with us, and we can create a personalized treatment plan to treat the source of gum disease, help you develop healthy oral hygiene habits, and help prevent it from returning.
Still have questions about gum disease in young adults?
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with any questions. We’re here to support you and your gums!
Gum disease is a serious matter and the best time to start preventative care is as a young adult. Check out these resources to learn more about the stages of periodontal disease and gets tips on how to develop the ultimate oral hygiene routine for your smile.
If you’re looking for a top periodontist in Tampa or New Port Richey/Trinity, we’d love to meet you! Schedule an appointment today.
