Is dry mouth a natural part of the aging process? Is tooth decay just 

kid stuff? Separate fact from fiction by reading this fact sheet about 

oral health and growing older. Having the right information can help 

you keep your mouth healthy for a lifetime.

In this publication, you will find information on –

3⁄4 Tooth Decay (Cavities)

3⁄4 Gum Diseases

3⁄4 Dry Mouth

3⁄4 Oral (Mouth) Cancer

Myth: Only school kids get cavities.

Fact: Tooth decay can develop at any age.

Tooth decay is not just a problem for children. It can happen as long 

as you have natural teeth. Dental plaque—a sticky film of bacteria—

can build up on teeth. Plaque produces acids that, over time, eat 

away at the tooth’s hard outer surface and create a cavity.

Even teeth that already have fillings are at risk. Plaque can build up 

underneath a chipped filling and cause new decay. And if your gums 

have pulled away from the teeth (called gum recession), the exposed 

tooth roots are also vulnerable to decay.

But you can protect your teeth against decay. Here’s how:

3⁄4 Use toothpaste that contains fluoride. Fluoride can prevent 

tooth decay and also heal early decay. And it is just as helpful 

for adults as it is for children. Be sure to brush twice daily. This 

will help remove dental plaque that forms on teeth. Drinking 

fluoridated water also helps prevent tooth decay in adults. 

TOOTH DECAY 

(CAVITIES)

Older Adults and 

Oral Health
2

3⁄4 Floss regularly to remove plaque from between teeth. Or use 

a special brush or wooden or plastic pick recommended by a 

dental professional.

3⁄4 See a dentist for routine check-ups. If you are at a higher risk for 

tooth decay (for example, if you have a dry mouth because of 

medicines you take), the dentist or dental hygienist may give you 

a fluoride treatment such as a varnish or foam during the office 

visit. Or, the dentist may tell you to use a fluoride gel or mouth 

rinse at home.

Myth: Gum disease is just a part of growing older.

Fact: You can prevent gum disease—it does not have to be a 

part of getting older.

Gum (periodontal) disease is an infection of the gums and 

surrounding tissues that hold teeth in place. Gum disease develops 

when plaque—a sticky film of bacteria—hardens and builds up 

along and under the gum line.

The two forms of gum disease are:

3⁄4 Gingivitis, a mild form that is reversible with good oral hygiene. 

In gingivitis, the gums become red, swollen and can bleed easily.

3⁄4 Periodontitis, a more severe form that can damage the soft 

tissues and bone that support teeth. In periodontitis, gums pull 

away from the teeth and form spaces (called “pockets”) that 

become infected. The body’s immune system fights the bacteria 

as the plaque spreads and grows below the gum line. Bacterial 

toxins and the body’s natural response to infection start to break 

down the bone and connective tissue that hold teeth in place. 

If not treated, the bones, gums, and tissue that support the teeth 

are destroyed. The teeth may eventually become loose and have 

to be removed.

The good news is that gum disease can be prevented. It does not 

have to be a part of growing older. With thorough brushing and 

flossing and regular professional cleanings by a dentist, you can 

reduce your risk of developing gum disease as you age.

And if you have been treated for gum disease, sticking to a proper 

oral hygiene routine and visiting the dentist for regular cleanings can 

minimize the chances it will get worse.

GUM DISEASES
3

Here are some things you can do:

3⁄4 Brush your teeth twice a day (with a fluoride toothpaste).

3⁄4 Floss regularly to remove plaque from between teeth. Or use 

a special brush or wooden or plastic pick recommended by a 

dental professional.

3⁄4 Visit a dentist for routine check-ups.

3⁄4 Don’t smoke or use chewing tobacco or snuff.

3⁄4 Eat a well-balanced diet.

If you smoke, you are at higher risk for developing periodontitis than 

a nonsmoker. In fact, smoking is one of the most significant risk 

factors for gum disease. 

Here’s why:

3⁄4 Smoking may impair blood flow to the gums, reducing the 

amount of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and make them 

more vulnerable to infection.

3⁄4 Chemicals in tobacco smoke cause inflammation and cell 

damage, and can weaken the immune system.

3⁄4 Nicotine is toxic to cells that make new connective tissue, and 

also increases the production of an enzyme that breaks 

down tissue. 

Smoking can also lower the chances that treatment for periodontitis 

will be successful and can lengthen the time it takes for treatments 

to work. 

Myth: Dry mouth is a natural part of the aging process. You just 

have to learn to live with it.

Fact: Dry mouth is not a part of the aging process itself; it’s 

important to find the cause of dry mouth so you can get relief.

Dry mouth is the feeling that there is not enough saliva in the mouth. 

Common causes of dry mouth in older adults include side effects of 

certain medications and dehydration. Dry mouth can make it hard to 

chew, swallow, or even talk. Having less saliva also increases the risk 

of developing tooth decay or fungal infections in the mouth since 

saliva helps keep harmful germs in check. 

DRY MOUTH
4

If you have dentures, dry mouth can make them uncomfortable and 

they may not fit as well. Without enough saliva, dentures can also rub 

against the gums or the roof of the mouth and cause sore spots. In 

addition, fungal infections can develop under the dentures.

It’s important to know that dry mouth is not part of the aging process 

itself. However, many older adults take medications that can dry 

out the mouth. And older adults are also more likely to have certain 

conditions that can lead to oral dryness. 

Here are some causes of dry mouth:

3⁄4 Side effects of medicines. Hundreds of medicines can cause the 

salivary glands to make less saliva. Medicines for high blood 

pressure, depression, and bladder control problems often 

cause dry mouth. 

3⁄4 Dehydration. Older adults are more prone to dehydration than 

younger people. 

3⁄4 Disease. Diabetes, Sjögren’s Syndrome, and HIV/AIDS can cause 

dry mouth.

3⁄4 Radiation therapy. The salivary glands can be damaged if they 

are exposed to radiation during cancer treatment.

3⁄4 Chemotherapy. Drugs used to treat cancer can make saliva 

thicker, causing the mouth to feel dry.

3⁄4 Nerve damage. Injury to the head or neck can damage the 

nerves that tell salivary glands to make saliva.

If you think you have dry mouth, see a dentist or physician. He or 

she can try to determine what is causing your dry mouth and what 

treatments might be helpful. For example, if dry mouth is caused by 

a medicine, the physician might change your medicine or adjust 

the dosage.

The dentist or physician also might suggest that you keep your mouth 

wet by using artificial saliva, sold in most drug stores/pharmacies. 

Some people benefit from sucking sugarless hard candy or chewing 

sugarless gum.
5

Myth: If you don’t use chewing tobacco, you don’t need to worry 

about oral cancer.

Fact: It’s not just smokeless tobacco (“dip” and “chew”) that can 

increase your chances of getting oral cancer.

Here’s what puts you at risk:

3⁄4 Tobacco and alcohol. Tobacco use of any kind, including cigarette 

smoking. Heavy alcohol use also increases your chances of 

developing the disease. And using tobacco plus alcohol poses 

a much greater risk than using either substance alone. 

3⁄4 Certain types of the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus 

(HPV). Although many people are exposed to oral HPV, the body 

usually clears the virus. But in some people the virus doesn’t go 

away, putting them at risk for oral cancer. 

3⁄4 Age. The likelihood of oral cancer increases with age. Most people 

with these cancers are 55 or older.

It’s important to catch oral cancer early—because treatment works 

best before the disease has spread. Pain may not be an early 

symptom of the disease. So be on the lookout for any changes in 

your mouth, especially if you smoke or drink.

If you have any of the following symptoms for more than two weeks, 

be sure to see a dentist or physician:

3⁄4 A sore, irritation, lump or thick patch in the mouth, lip, or throat

3⁄4 A white or red patch in the mouth

3⁄4 A sore throat or a feeling that something is caught in the throat

3⁄4 Hoarseness

3⁄4 Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or speaking

3⁄4 Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue

3⁄4 Numbness in the tongue or other areas of the mouth

3⁄4 Swelling of the jaw; in denture wearers, this could feel like dentures 

have become uncomfortable or don’t fit right

3⁄4 Ear pain

Most often, these symptoms do not mean cancer. An infection or other 

problem can cause the same symptoms. But it’s important to get them 

checked out—because if it is cancer, it can be treated more successfully 

if it’s caught early.

ORAL (MOUTH) 

CANCER
U.S. DEPARTMENT 

OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes 

of Health

August 2020

For more copies contact:

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

National Oral Health Information Center

1 NOHIC Way

Bethesda, Maryland 20892–3500

1–866–232–4528

www.nidcr.nih.gov

This publication is not copyrighted. Make as many photocopies 

as you need.