About 5% to 20% of the population suffers from severe, generalized gum disease. For those who are most at risk, the disease becomes evident in teenage and early adult years rather than the later years.

Risk factors for gum (periodontal) disease include smoking, genetic predisposition, psychosocial stress, diabetes, and some rare systemic (whole body) diseases.

Source: Epidemiology of Periodontal Diseases.

J Periodontol 2005;76:1406-1419.