What are the causes of periodontitis?

• Dental plaque forms on teeth - this is a pale-yellow biofilm that develops naturally on teeth. If is formed by bacteria that try to attach themselves to the tooth's smooth surface.
• Brushing teeth gets rid of plaque, but it soon builds up; within a day or so.
• If it is not removed, within two or three days it hardens into tartar. Tartar is much harder to remove than plaque. Another name for tartar is calculus. Getting rid of tartar requires a professional - you cannot do it yourself.
• Plaque can gradually and progressively damage teeth and surrounding tissue. At first, the patient may develop gingivitis - inflammation of the gum around the base of the teeth.Read more ...
• Persistent gingivitis can result in pockets developing between the teeth and gums. These pockets fill up with bacteria.
• Bacterial toxins and our immune system's response to infection start destroying the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. Eventually the teeth start becoming loose, and can even fall out.

What are the risk factors for periodontitis?

A risk factor is something that increases the risk of developing a condition or disease. For example, obesity is a risk factor for diabetes type 2 - this means that obese people have a higher chance of developing diabetes. The following risk factors are linked to a higher risk of periodontitis:

• Smoking - regular smokers are much more likely to develop gum problems. Smoking also undermines the efficacy of treatments.
• Hormonal changes in females - puberty, pregnancy, and the menopause are moments in life when a female's hormones undergo changes. Such changes raise the risk of developing gum diseases.
• Diabetes - patients who live with diabetes have a much higher incidence of gum disease than other individuals of the same age
• AIDS - people with AIDS have more gum diseases
• Cancer - cancer, and some cancer treatments can make gum diseases more of a problem
• Some drugs - some medications that reduce saliva are linked to gum disease risk.
• Genetics - some people are more genetically susceptible to gum diseases

Source : medicalnewstoday