Risk Factors for Periodontal Disease:

• Tobacco Use

  • More than 40% of cases of periodontitis are a result of cigarette smoking.​

• Diabetes Mellitus

  • Periodontal disease and diabetes mellitus have a bidirectional​ relationship, meaning a patient who does not control blood glucose is more likely to have more severe periodontal disease.

• Psychosocial Factors

  • Individuals under stress are more likely to have alveolar bone loss.​

• Medications

  • Specific systemic medications can lead to gingival enlargement and encourages plaque- induced biofilm retention.​

  • Certain medications include Phenytoin, Cyclosporine, and Nifedipine.

• Nutritional Status

  • Poor diet that includes soft sugary foods can adhere to the ​teeth and tissues more than fibrous, firm foods. 

• Genetic Predisposition

  • From 33% to 39% of the risks for periodontal disease is related to genetic factors. ​

• Host Response 

  • Alterations in the immune response may result in periodontal damage.​

  • Overly active neutrophils may be responsible for the destruction seen in periodontal infection. 

• Osteoporosis

  • Risk factors for osteoporosis are also risk factors for periodontitis, including smoking, nutritional dificeinces, glucocorticosteroid use, and immune dysfunction. ​

  • Greater alveolar bone loss is common with osteoporosis. 

• Other Systemic Conditions (such as Down syndrome) 

• Dental Factors

  • Congenital abnoramalities such as crowded or overlapped teeth could be a local contributing factor for periodontal disease. 

• Poor Oral Home Care

  • Lack of proper oral home care can contribute to the accumulation of plaque - induced biofilm build up. ​

(Wilkins, 2017, pages 313 - 316)