Medical Health Encyclopedia

Children and Adolescents. Gingivitis, in varying degrees, is nearly a universal finding in children and adolescents. In rare genetic cases, children and adolescents are subject to destructive forms of the disease. Researchers have also observed some of the organisms seen in periodontal disease in young children without signs of gum problems. Healthy children, however, do not, generally harbor two primary periodontal bacteria, P. gingivalis and T. denticola. The disease is also uncommon in teenagers.

Adults. One survey reported that 3.6% of adults between the ages 18 and 34 had periodontal disease. As people age, the risk for periodontal disease increases. Over half of American adults have gingivitis surrounding 3  to 4 teeth and 30% have significant periodontal disease surrounding an average of 3  to 4 teeth. In a study of people over 70 years old, 86% had at least moderate periodontitis and over a quarter of them have lost their teeth.

Female Hormones

About three-quarters of periodontal office visits are made by women, even though women tend to take better care of their teeth than men. Female hormones affect the gums, and women are particularly susceptible to periodontal problems. Hormone-influenced gingivitis appears in some adolescents, in some pregnant women, and is occasionally a side effect of birth control medication.

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Before Menstruation. Gingivitis may flare up in some women a few days before they menstruate when progesterone levels are high. Gum inflammation may also occur during ovulation. Progesterone dilates blood vessels causing inflammation, and blocks the repair of collagen, the structural protein that supports the gums.

Pregnancy. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can aggravate existing gingivitis, which typically worsens around the second month and reaches a peak in the eighth month. Pregnancy does not cause gum disease, and simple preventive oral hygiene can help maintain healthy gums. Any pregnancy-related gingivitis usually resolves within a few months of delivery. Because periodontal disease can increase the risk for low-weight infants and cause other complications, it is important for pregnant women to see a dentist.