Teenagers And Gum Disease

The statistics taken on gum disease paint an interesting picture of the people most prone to develop gum disease. Many people wrongly assume that gum disease is a problem that naturally occurs as a person ages. This is not the case. Gum disease and old age do not have to go together. In fact while gum disease is uncommon in teenagers, the milder form of it, known as gingivitis, can easily strike at a young age. Let us examine teenagers and their chances of falling victim to gum disease.

Some researchers believe that teenagers who have parents with gum disease are more likely to develop it. The foods and beverages a teenager consumes also play a paramount role. Many teenagers consume far too many snack foods that are high in sugar and/or are fatty, fried or starchy foods. This can cause problems to start in the gums and teeth.

Teenagers who have braces on their teeth need to work harder to brush and floss their teeth than do those who do not have braces. Many teens get lazy and don’t pay as much attention to their oral hygiene as they should and this can lead to the early stages of gum disease.

There are certain types of medical conditions such as diabetes, leukemia and Down syndrome that can increase a teenager’s chances of developing gum disease as can a variety of types of antibiotics prescribed for many types of infections and common health concerns of teenagers.

The gums can suffer when the immune system is not strong just as many other parts of the body can suffer. Not eating a healthy well balanced diet, getting less than adequate sleep and trying to cope with high levels of stress can all run down the body’s resources and can lead to gum disease. This is common with teenagers who are always on the go and often go straight from school to part time jobs.

Teenage girls run a higher risk of developing gum disease than do teenage boys. This is due to hormonal changes that take place when puberty begins. An increase in sex hormones in girls will change the way the gums react to the bacteria found in plaque. These changes can make the gums of teenagers girls very sensitive and more inclined to become sore and irritated. Some teenage females may notice that bleeding of their gums when they brush or floss their teeth occurs in varying degrees in the days leading up to their menstrual periods.

It is estimated that more than half of all teenagers worldwide have one form or another of gum disease, with gingivitis being the most common form. Teenagers who smoke are more likely to develop the problem than are non-smoking teenagers. Smoking breaks down the body’s defences and causes the immune system to not work as nature intended. Blood vessels become restricted and the mouth tissues are constantly assaulted by the toxins found in cigarettes. The more a teenager smokes, the greater are his or her chances of developing gum disease. Smoking in teenagers is also related to developing mouth cancers early in life. This is yet another reason to kick the habit right away, and if you do not smoke, not to start.

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