The combination of gum disease and thinning bones might increase the risk of tooth loss in postmenopausal women.
![Postmenopausal women at risk of tooth loss Postmenopausal women at risk of tooth loss](https://drop.ndtv.com/images/story-noimage.png?q=50)
Periodontal disease arises when bacteria in the sticky plaque that forms on teeth infects the gums, causing them to pull away from the teeth and form pockets that become infected. Eventually, the bone and connective tissue holding the teeth in place may start to break down. More than 57 percent of women lost at least one tooth during the follow-up period. The researchers found that the top risk factor for tooth loss was the degree of deterioration in the alveolar bones, which support the teeth. A woman's risk of tooth loss tripled with each millimetre in alveolar bone loss she had at the study's outset.
The early, reversible stage of gum disease is known as gingivitis. Signs of that include reddening, swelling or bleeding in the gums.
August 2005
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