{"id":1310,"date":"2023-08-11T17:06:59","date_gmt":"2023-08-11T21:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smilesofstyle.com\/blog\/?p=1310"},"modified":"2023-10-02T17:07:16","modified_gmt":"2023-10-02T21:07:16","slug":"senior-gum-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smilesofstyle.com\/blog\/2023\/08\/senior-gum-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Causing All This Gum Disease in Older Adults?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Gum disease can menace a smile at any age, but it is significantly more likely to occur in people over sixty. Since it takes years to develop, older people are more likely to suffer from it than younger people, but a dentist can provide services to preserve their gum health<\/a>. Here\u2019s more about why seniors tend to deal with gum disease more often, and what they can do to keep their smiles healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What Is Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gum disease is an infection of the gums that begins with plaque accumulating at the gumline. If plaque is not removed, it will harden into tartar, which shelters bacteria that attack the gum tissue. The first stage of gum disease is gingivitis, during which the gums become inflamed and show symptoms such as a fiery red color, swelling, and bleeding. If left untreated, the infection will go deeper into the tissue to cause periodontitis, which can result in tooth loss, deterioration of the jawbone, and secondary infections throughout the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why Do Seniors Experience More Gum Disease?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Gum disease does not happen overnight; it often occurs over time due to chronically poor oral hygiene, and seniors have had much more time for it to develop. Often, seniors neglect their oral care because other health concerns seem more urgent at the time. Some reasons why seniors might develop gum disease are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n