What Causes Gum Disease?

Bacterial plaque is the root cause — but several factors decide how quickly it damages your gums and bone.

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Quick Answer

The Short Answer

Gum disease is caused by bacterial plaque that isn’t removed and hardens into tartar beneath the gumline. Whether that plaque causes serious damage depends heavily on risk factors — smoking is the biggest, followed by uncontrolled diabetes, certain medications, hormonal changes, dry mouth, poorly fitting restorations, and inherited susceptibility.

Details

The Risk Factors That Matter Most

Smoking and Tobacco

The single biggest controllable risk factor. Tobacco restricts blood flow to the gums, which both accelerates the disease and masks the bleeding that would normally warn you something is wrong. It also significantly reduces how well treatment works.

Diabetes

The relationship runs both ways. Poorly controlled blood sugar makes gum infection worse, and active gum infection makes blood sugar harder to control. Managing one genuinely helps the other.

Medications and Dry Mouth

Hundreds of common prescriptions reduce saliva, and some (certain blood pressure drugs, anti-seizure medications and immunosuppressants) can cause gum overgrowth that traps plaque. Always bring your medication list to your visit.

Other Contributors

Genetics play a real role — some people are simply more susceptible. Hormonal changes, stress, poor nutrition, grinding, and old crowns or fillings with rough or overhanging edges that trap plaque all contribute.