Tooth loss has been a long-accepted fact of aging. Almost 20 percent of American seniors do not have their natural teeth. Furthermore, the risk of losing the teeth increases as the person ages.

1. Unlinking Tooth Loss and Aging
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2. Tooth loss has been a long-accepted fact of aging. Almost 20 percent of American seniors do not have
their natural teeth. Furthermore, the risk of losing the teeth increases as the person ages.
Tooth loss among older Americans does not happen overnight, though. More interestingly, many
studies tend to suggest that the factors that contribute to the condition may have nothing to do with
aging at all.
Common Reasons for Tooth Loss
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the leading reasons for
tooth loss is the lack of dental insurance. In a report by Henry J Kaiser Family Foundation, there
were 45 percent of adults who were uninsured. Many of these came from low-income families. Less
than 5 percent of seniors have an income of more than $100,000. Some of them don’t receive enough
pension to pay for quality dental insurance.
In the process, the poor older Americans can’t see a dentist for a regular checkup or afford reliable
oral appliances, such as dentures. They may age without anything to protect or improve their dental
health.

3. Older seniors who have lost their teeth may also suffer from poor nutrition. The reason is the
preference of food. The lack of good dentures may mean eating more chewable types of food, which
are soft. They may then shy away from fruits and vegetables.
More than 50 percent of the seniors develop periodontal disease that can be classified as either
moderate or severe. It’s an oral condition characterized by an infection on the surrounding parts of
the teeth. These can include the alveolar bone and the gums. It allows bacteria to enter, which will
lead to tooth decay.
Some studies have shown the increased risk of periodontal disease with common chronic conditions,
including stroke and diabetes.
With these possible causes, perhaps it’s time to rethink the concept that old age directly results in
tooth loss. It may also help people realize that the reasons may be preventable.

4. Resources:
http://www.orthodenco.com
https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2017.303835
https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/publications/factsheets/adult_oral_health/adult_older.htm