A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.
It is possible to develop periodontal disease with or without the risk factors listed below. However, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing periodontal disease. If you have a number of risk factors, ask your dentist or doctor what you can do to reduce your risk.
Conditions that increase your risk of periodontal disease include:
Taking certain medicines can increase your risk of developing periodontal disease, such as:
Your risk of developing periodontal disease increases as you age.
Women are more likely than men to develop periodontitis. This is probably because of hormonal changes that women experience throughout their life cycle.
There seems to be a genetic tendency for certain people to develop periodontitis.
Other factors that may increase your risk of periodontitis include:
Gum disease risk factors. American Academy of Periodontology website. Available at: https://www.perio.org/consumer/risk-factors. Accessed August 17, 2016.
Gum (Periodontal) Disease. NIH SeniorHealth website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed August 17, 2016.
Periodontal disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Updated March 10, 2015. Accessed August 17, 2016.
Periodontal (gum) disease: Causes, symptoms, and treatments. National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research website. Available at:
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Accessed August 17, 2016.
5/28/2014 DynaMed Systematic Literature Surveillance
...(Click grey area to select URL)
Nibali L, Tatarakis N, et al. Clinical review: Association between metabolic syndrome and periodontitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2013;98(3):913-920.
Last reviewed February 2021 by EBSCO Medical Review Board
Last Updated: 4/6/2021