Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, is a set of inflammatory conditions affecting the supporting tissues surrounding the teeth.
Periodontal disease is generally due to bacteria in the mouth infecting the tissue around the teeth. Risk factors include smoking, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, family history, and certain medications. Diagnosis is by inspecting the gum tissue around the teeth both visually and with a probe and x-rays to detect the bone loss around the teeth.