And, older adults also are more likely to keep their teeth for a lifetime than they were a decade ago. However, studies indicate that older people have the highest rates of periodontal disease and need to do more to maintain good oral health. Whatever your age, it's important to keep your mouth clean, healthy and feeling good. And it's important to know the state of your periodontal health. At least half of non-institutionalized people over age 55 have periodontitis.
Older people have three times more tooth decay than children.
Almost one out of four people age 65 and older have lost all of their teeth. Receding gum tissue affects the majority of older people. Periodontal disease and tooth decay are the leading causes of tooth loss in older adults. What you may not realize is that oral health is not just important for maintaining a nice-looking smile and being able to eat corn on the cob. Good oral health is essential to quality of life.