This is especially true when the amount of saliva is reduced. Tooth decay in older adults appears most frequently around the the gumline. The root portion of a tooth is especially subject to decay. Root decay is difficult to restore, and decay often reoccurs soon after it is placed. Periodontal disease can be described as red or swollen gums that bleed with the slightest irritation.
Pockets often develop between teeth and gums and can pack or trap food.
This disease is generally found in varying degrees in older adults. If not treated, the disease becomes more and more destructive. In the elderly, periodontal disease is a primary cause for toothloss. As we age, the pulp gradually becomes smaller with fewer blood vessels and less nerve tissue supplying the teeth. As a result, your teeth have less fluid content and become brittle.