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CDC > Oral Health home > Basics of Oral Health    
Adult Oral Health
Facts About Adult OralHealth
Thebabyboomergeneration is thefirst
wherethemajorityof peoplewillkeep
theirnaturalteeth overtheirentire
lifetime. This is largelybecauseof the
benefits of waterfluoridation and fluoride
toothpaste. However, threats to oral
health, includingtooth loss, continue
throughout life.
Themajorrisks fortooth loss aretooth
decayand gumdiseasethat mayincreasewith agebecauseof problems with salivaproduction;
recedinggums that expose“softer” root surfaces to decay-causingbacteria; ordifficulties
flossingand brushingbecauseof poorvision, cognitiveproblems, chronicdisease, and physical
limitations.
Although moreadults arekeepingtheirteeth, manycontinueto need treatment fordental
problems. This need is even greaterformembers of someracialand ethnicgroups—about 3in 4
Hispanics and non-Hispanicblack adults havean unmet need fordentaltreatment, as do people
who arepoor. Theseindividuals arealso morelikelyto report havingpoororalhealth.
In addition, someadults mayhavedifficultyaccessingdentaltreatment. Foreveryadult aged 19
years orolderwithout medicalinsurance, therearethreewho don’t havedentalinsurance.
Oralhealth problems in adults includethefollowing:
Untreated tooth decay. Morethan 1in 4(26%) adults in theUnited States haveuntreated
tooth decay.
Gumdisease. Nearlyhalf (46%) of alladults aged 30years oroldershow signs of gum
disease; severegumdiseaseaffects about 9%of adults.
Tooth loss. Completetooth loss amongadults aged 65-74years has steadilydeclined over
time, but disparities exist amongsomepopulation groups. If left untreated, cavities
(tooth decay) and periodontal(gum) diseaselead to tooth loss.
Oralcancer. Oralcancers aremost common in olderadults, particularlyin peopleolderthan
55years who smokeand areheavydrinkers.
Peopletreated forcancerwho havechemotherapymaysufferfromoralproblems
such as painfulmouth ulcers, impaired taste, and drymouth.
Chronicdiseases. Havingachronicdisease, such as arthritis, heart diseaseorstroke,
diabetes, emphysema, hepatitis C, alivercondition, orbeingobesemayincreasean
individual’s risk of havingmissingteeth and poororalhealth.
Patients with weakened immunesystems, such as thoseinfected with HIV and other
medicalconditions (organ transplants) and who usesomemedications (e.g.,
steroids) areat higherrisk forsomeoralproblems.
Chronicdisablingdiseases such as jaw joint diseases (TMD), autoimmuneconditions
such as Sjögren’s Syndrome, and osteoporosis affect millions of Americans and
compromiseoralhealth and functioning, moreoften amongwomen.
What can you do to maintain youroralhealth?
References
1. Griffin S, BarkerL, Griffin P, Cleveland J, Kohn W. Oralhealth needs amongadults in theUnited
States with chronicdiseases. J AmDentAssoc. 2009;140(10);1266-1274.
2. US Department of Health and Human Services. OralHealthinAmerica: A Reportof theSurgeon
General. Rockville, MD: US Department of Health and Human Services, NationalInstituteof
Dentaland CraniofacialResearch, NationalInstitutes of Health; 2000.
3. Centers forDiseaseControland Prevention. OralHealth SurveillanceReport: Trends in Dental
Caries and Sealants, Tooth Retention, and Edentulism, United States, 1999–2004to 2011–2016.
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Basics of OralHealth
Children’s Oral Health
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Disparities in Oral
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Oral Health Conditions
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3. , , , ,
Atlanta, GA: Centers forDiseaseControland Prevention, US Dept of Health and Human Services;
2019.
4. EkeP, Thornton-Evans G, Wei L, BorgnakkeW, DyeB, Genco R. Periodontitis in US adults:
NationalHealth and Nutrition Examination Survey2009-2014. JADA. 2018;149(7):576-586.
5. DyeBA, Tan S, Smith V, et al. Trends in oralhealth status, United States, 1988–1994and 1999–
2004. VitalHealthStat. 2007; 11(248).
6. NationalCancerInstitute. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. (N.D.)
SEERStat Fact Sheets: OralCavityand PharynxCancerwebsite.
http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/oralcav.html . Accessed July5, 2016.
Additional Resources
OralHealth DataAdult Indicators
HealthyPeople2030: OralHealth Conditions
CDC: ManagingDiabetes
NationalInstitutes of Health: Chemotherapyand YourMouth [PDF– 326KB]
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Page lastreviewed:December2,2020
Contentsource:Divisionof Oral Health,National CenterforChronicDisease PreventionandHealthPromotion
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