Our teeth go through a lot every single day—from biting into meals to handling years of use. Over time, issues like tooth decay, gum disease, injury, or even simple wear and tear can take a toll. While these problems may increase the risk of losing teeth, tooth loss is not something everyone has to face. With good daily care, regular dental checkups, and a bit of caution, it’s entirely possible to keep your natural teeth well into old age.
In 1960, about 49 percent of adults aged 65-74 had lost all of their teeth. In 2012, about 13 percent of this age bracket were in the same predicament. Research confirms that millions more people continue to enjoy the benefits of their natural teeth than just a few years ago.
Despite the tremendous progress in general dental health, many people still face challenges maintaining their teeth. The Center for Disease Control recently released a report, “Dental Caries and Tooth Loss in Adults in the United States, 2011-12,” containing these key findings:
- Among adults aged 20-64, 91 percent had experienced tooth decay and 27 percent had untreated tooth decay.
- Adults aged 20-39 were twice as likely to have all their teeth (67 percent) compared with those aged 40-64 (34 percent).
- About one in five adults aged 65 and older had untreated tooth decay.
While these statistics have improved over previous decades, they also suggest that dental disease continues to flourish. In fact, tooth decay is the number one childhood disease in the U.S. Since dental caries is a bacterial infection, the destructive process easily moves into adult teeth. And the presence of disease at any age dramatically increases the risk of tooth loss over time. To top it off, gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss in adults. And even one missing tooth can disrupt the intricate balance of chewing and stress the remaining teeth, leading to more missing teeth. Remember Dominoes?
Fighting The Good Fight
Numerous public health measures deserve credit for the improvement in general dental health. Water fluoridation, the practice of sealing grooves in susceptible molars, and educational programs have increased dental health in many populations. But the greatest benefits result when individuals place a high priority on their well-being. Establishing daily oral hygiene habits and maintaining a consistent routine with a dentist produces winning results that few other measures match.
We’ve partnered with many motivated patients who want to keep their teeth through every stage of life. Short and long-term care plans customized for individuals consider many critical factors, from saliva volume to systemic health influences. Often just one simple modification to your daily routine tips the balance for dental health. It might be the use of xylitol, chlorhexidine, or remineralizing products that make a dramatic difference. Or maybe the application of protective varnishes along with slightly altered recall schedules with your hygienist keep bacterial infections from wreaking havoc. In high-risk patients, an easy switch from a regular toothpaste to a prescription version may stop destructive decay in its tracks.
At Metropolitan Dental Arts, caring for Brooklyn smiles means more than just treating problems—it’s about helping our community enjoy healthy teeth for life. While broader health efforts matter, we’ve learned that real change happens when care is personal. That’s why we focus on building lasting relationships with our patients, offering honest advice, and creating dental plans that fit their individual needs. Growing older doesn’t have to mean losing teeth—with the right guidance and consistent care, your smile can stay strong at every stage of life.
