health and medicine question #119

Davina, a 8 year old female from the Internet asks on January 18, 2000,

Q:

Do people's teeth fall out naturally from old age or is that caused by a disease?
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the answer

Barry Shell answered on January 18, 2000, A:

Loss of teeth is not an inevitable result of aging. Tooth loss is primarily caused by cavities or from gum disease. Improved oral hygiene is reducing the average number of old people who have lost their teeth. Fifty years ago it used to be almost all elderly people had lost almost all their teeth, but it is now predicted that because of better dental care only 10% of the elderly in 2024 will have lost their teeth.

For more information, check out this website about oral health in the elderly.

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