periodontal disease

How Do The Risks Of Gum Disease Increase With Age?

It should not be news to anyone, to know that the risks of something going wrong with your body increase with age. What people don’t know is what parts of their body are at risk and how are they at risk.
Most people think that the only way to get gum disease is through poor oral hygiene habits. They may not realize that getting older puts them at risk even if they are doing the right things.

What Are The Risk Factors Associated With Age?

As you get older, your gums will recede. Receding Gums is also the result of poor oral hygiene, but no matter what a person does, as they get older, their gums will recede. When gums recede, gaps between the teeth and gums form. Bacteria can find their way into the pockets that the receding gums creates and that bacteria can lead to cavities and gum disease if left untreated.


As you age, you also suffer from dry mouth. This can come from medications that many seniors take or from the mouth not producing enough saliva. The dry mouth can mean less protection from the bacteria in the teeth and gums. As we get older, we also lose some of our dexterity and find it harder to hold things. This can lead to not cleaning the teeth as well as they need.


What To Do?

You cannot stop from getting older. There are some things that you can do to lower the risk factors for gum disease. The first thing is to continue to see a dental professional for checkups and professional cleanings. Besides that, using products designed for senior may offer more protection against gum disease. Following good oral hygiene habits is the best defense you have against gum disease no matter how old you are.

Contact our offices to learn more about what you can do to keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible at any age.