Gum Disease causes major immune issues in people over 65

FROM THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PERIODONTOLOGY

In 2012, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than 70% of the nation’s periodontal disease cases occur in people age 65 and older, suggesting a direct correlation between periodontal disease risk and age. The expression of being “long in the tooth” is often used to describe an older person, as if the gum disease and receding gums that signify it are a fact of aging. But they don’t have to be. In this article, educator and American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) periodontist Sivaraman Prakasam, BDS, MSD, PhD, discusses the periodontal changes that may occur in aging populations and how oral health professionals are key in educating patients about methods of prevention and care. The AAP is proud to work with Dimensions of Dental Hygiene and Colgate-Palmolive to bring you insights that will keep your patients healthy at every age.

—Terrence J. Griffin, DMDPresident, American Academy of Periodontology

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https://dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/article/effects-of-aging-on-periodontal-health/