Reviewed by Dr. Kerri Font, DDS
Reading time: three minutes.
Periodontal disease, commonly known as gum disease, affects millions of Americans, leading to symptoms like bad breath, gum inflammation, and even tooth loss.
If someone in your family has had gum disease, you might wonder: is periodontal disease hereditary?
In this blog, we will explore how genetics, environmental factors, and oral hygiene play a role in this condition.
Table of Contents
- What Is Periodontal Disease?
- Is Periodontal Disease Hereditary?
- Understanding the Genetic Connection
- Treatment for Periodontal Disease
- Schedule a Dental Exam With Our Periodontists in Highlands Ranch, CO
- FAQs about Gum Disease
Key Takeaway
Periodontal disease can run in families due to inherited traits that increase the risk. However, good oral hygiene, avoiding smoking, and regular dental checkups can help prevent gum disease, even if you are genetically predisposed.
What Is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal disease is a form of gum disease that affects the soft tissues and bone supporting the teeth.
It begins with gingivitis, characterized by red, swollen gums and gum bleeding, and can progress to more severe stages, like chronic or advanced periodontitis, which can cause bone loss and loose teeth.
Stages of periodontal disease include:
- Gingivitis: The earliest stage, with mild gum inflammation. Learn more about gingivitis in this here: How Long Does Gingivitis Last?
- Moderate periodontitis: A slow-progressing condition causing periodontal bone loss and inflammation.
- Advanced periodontitis: A severe form marked by rapid alveolar bone loss.
Is Periodontal Disease Hereditary?
Yes, periodontal disease can have a genetic basis, but genetics is not the sole factor.
Research has shown that genetic gum disease can stem from inherited traits that affect your immune response, inflammatory response, or susceptibility to harmful bacteria.
However, environmental factors like smoking, oral hygiene, and stress significantly influence whether someone with a genetic predisposition develops gum disease.
Understanding the Genetic Connection
Specific genes associated with the immune system and inflammatory diseases, like inflammatory bowel disease or coronary heart disease, may also increase the risk of developing gum disease.
Genetic predispositions may influence:
- Susceptibility to gum disease: People with a family history of gum disease have higher risk factors.
- Immune response to bacteria: Some individuals have stronger inflammatory responses that worsen gum damage.
- Treatment responses: Genetics may affect how well periodontal tissues heal after treatment.
Treatment for Periodontal Disease
Treatment depends on the severity and type of gum disease. Our periodontists offer personalized care to address every stage of periodontal disease.
Treatment options include:
- Scaling and root planing: Deep cleaning to remove harmful bacteria and smooth root surfaces.
- Gum surgery: Correcting severe periodontitis or gum tissue damage.
- Dental bone grafts or ridge augmentation: Restoring lost bone to support dental implants or natural teeth.
- Instructions on at-home care: Regular brushing and flossing, regular visits to the dentist and lifestyle changes.
| Reduce Your Risk!Even with a genetic predisposition, you can protect your oral health by maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Follow these steps to minimize your risk:Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste.Floss daily to remove plaque from between teeth.Visit a dental professional regularly for checkups and periodontal treatment.Avoid smoking, as it increases the periodontal risk significantly.Manage medical conditions like diabetes, which can worsen periodontal inflammation. |
Schedule a Dental Exam With Our Periodontists in Highlands Ranch, CO
If you have a family history of gum disease or signs of gum disease like loose teeth, gum inflammation, or bad breath, visit Highlands Ranch Periodontics & Implant Center.
Our experienced periodontists, Dr. Mike Norouzinia, DDS, and Dr. Kerri Font, DDS, provide personalized periodontal treatment to address genetic susceptibility and protect your oral health.
To book an appointment at our periodontal clinic in Highlands Ranch, CO, call (303) 683-1144 or visit us at 9090 S Ridgeline Blvd. #225, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129.
FAQs about Gum Disease
Periodontal disease itself is not contagious, but the harmful bacteria that contribute to gum disease can be spread through saliva. This means activities like sharing utensils or kissing may pass bacteria that could increase someone’s risk if they already have other risk factors.
Learn more about the topic in this blog: Is Gum Disease Contagious?
According to the CDC, nearly half of adults in the U.S. aged 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease.