What Happens To Your Gums As You Age?

While we spend a significant amount of time talking about the importance of keeping your teeth healthy, the truth is that’s really only HALF the equation! 

Gum health is just as important as tooth health. Your gums are comprised of soft tissue that surrounds the teeth and provides a seal to prevent food and other foreign objects from passing through. Unlike the rest of the soft tissues in your mouth, like lips and cheeks, your gums are bound tightly to the underlying bone. This allows us to eat a variety of food efficiently! 

As you get older, your gums become more susceptible to disease. This can also lead to other issues, including heart disease, that can become more serious as you age. Keep reading as we outline the common gum tissue problems that can happen as you age! 

Gum disease 

Gum disease is more likely to occur in older people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate 70% of people over 65 have some form of gum disease. 

The early stages of gum disease can easily be missed by patients, so by the time they visit their dentist, the disease has often progressed to a moderate or severe case. 

Common types of gum disease include gingivitis and periodontitis. The milder ailment—gingivitis—can cause gums to become red, swollen, and bleed easily. However, since there is rarely any discomfort felt at this stage of the problem, it can be easily overlooked. 

Periodontitis occurs if gingivitis goes untreated. Plaque spreads and grows below the gum line, affecting the part of your teeth your gums are supposed to protect. The toxins beneath the gum line can cause the tissues and bones underneath the teeth to break down, which results in tooth decay and then tooth loss. 

The health of older patients and their gums directly correlates to tooth loss. To maintain a full and beautiful smile, it’s important you take gum health seriously. 

Receding gums 

Many of our older patients also experience receding gums. Gum recession occurs when the gum tissue that surrounds your teeth wears away or pulls back, which exposes more of your teeth and their roots. 

When gum recession occurs, a gap between the tooth and the gum line appears, leaving the mouth more vulnerable to bad bacteria that gets caught along the rim of your teeth and gums.  

Just like with gum disease, receding gums also occur slowly over time. One reason this is common in older patients is that it’s usually linked to hormonal changes. As hormones change as we age, gums become more sensitive and more likely to move. Mild gum recession can be treated; however, if left too long it could require a surgical procedure.  

Dry mouth 

Due to a mix of side effects from medications and existing health conditions like diabetes, seniors are more likely to suffer from dry mouth. And aside from the annoyance of always having a sticky, dry palate, this condition can lead to serious gum issues. 

Without saliva, you’re not consistently removing excess food and sugars from your mouth. These particles become lodged between your teeth and gum line and create a breeding ground for gum disease. 

Once a patient develops gum disease, they commonly have persistent bad breath, pain while chewing, and either loose or sensitive teeth. That, compounded with dry mouth, and it can get very uncomfortable to eat! 

How to prevent gum disease 

Preventing gum disease doesn’t have to be hard! First, it’s important to brush and floss your teeth every day. Think you’ve heard that enough? Just remember, everything that can harm your teeth will also harm your gums! 

In addition, adding a mouth wash routine can help further reduce the chance of harming your gums. 

Finally, it’s important to visit your dentist twice a year. Since many gum issues remain silent and suddenly sneak up on you, it could be too late by the time you have symptoms. Take note of the color and texture of your gums. If they appear to be redder than normal or are bleeding more easily, it’s important to schedule an appointment with us!