Among adults from 35 to 44-years-old, 69 percent have lost at least one permanent tooth. By age 50, Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth (including wisdom teeth). And among adults 65 to 74, 26 percent have lost all their teeth.
According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), by age 50, most Americans have lost an average of 12 teeth. The full adult dentition consists of 32 teeth. That means by age 50 you can expect to have 37% fewer teeth.
Tooth loss in adults is more common than most people think. The leading causes of tooth loss in adults are disease, trauma, or aging. It is also possible to lose teeth due to bad oral hygiene. Tooth loss in adults is no minor issue.
Although losing baby teeth is completely normal, losing adult teeth is not. Tooth loss is far from inevitable. While time and age can cause a decline in oral health, it is not age itself that causes tooth loss and other problems.
Average Teeth Per Age Group
For Americans aged between 20 and 34, the average is just under 27 teeth (26.90) remaining. By the time you hit 49 years, you are feasibly down to 25.05 teeth on average. Once you get to 64, you are pretty average if you have around 22 (22.30) teeth still in your mouth.
Children usually lose their first tooth around 5 or 6 years old. But every child is unique. Some will lose their first tooth as early as 4 years old or as late as 7 years old.
17.3% of seniors 65 years and older have no remaining teeth. Older seniors, women, Black seniors, current smokers, and those with lower incomes and less education are more likely to have no remaining teeth.
Periodontal disease is one of the leading causes of tooth loss. Injuries and oral-dental trauma may also cause tooth loss. Risk factors for tooth loss include poor oral hygiene, tobacco use, dry mouth, gum disease (gingivitis) and some prescription medications.
(Learn about dental services covered by Medicare here.) Tooth loss causes and treatments are widely discussed simply because 27 percent of all seniors over the age of 65 have lost not one or two, but all of their teeth!
People with hypodontia often keep their primary teeth longer than others, as there are no permanent teeth to replace them.
Tooth loss.
Nearly 1 in 5 of adults aged 65 or older have lost all of their teeth. Complete tooth loss is twice as prevalent among adults aged 75 and older (26%) compared with adults aged 65-74 (13%).
Tooth decay may not cause any pain. However, if you have dental caries you might have: toothache – either continuous pain keeping you awake or occasional sharp pain without an obvious cause. tooth sensitivity – you may feel tenderness or pain when eating or drinking something hot, cold or sweet.
Today, three-quarters of people over 65 retain at least some of their natural teeth, but older people still suffer higher rates of gum disease, dental decay, oral cancer, mouth infections, and tooth loss.
Most children lose their last baby tooth around the age of 12. All non-wisdom teeth are typically in place around your child's 13th birthday.
Approximately 17% of senior adults aged 65 years and older have no teeth.
The first baby teeth are usually lost at about six years of age. Some kids may lose theirs as early as five or as late as seven, which is still considered normal. The average child will have lost eight baby teeth by age eight; four front teeth on top and four front teeth on the bottom.
One week without brushing:
As soon as a week goes by, your teeth' enamel will start to break down. The plaque that hasn't been removed will make it easy for bad breath to grow. A dirty tooth will make it hard to clean. You will have a greater chance of getting cavities if you don't brush your teeth for a week.
Long-term oral health problems
A missing tooth could lead to gum disease and increase your risk of an oral infection, which, left untreated, could lead to bigger, more serious health issues.
A lost tooth isn't just bad for your smile, it's bad for your oral health. An empty socket in the gums is at high risk for infection, and the teeth nearest to the gap may shift to “fill in.” Losing multiple teeth only increases the potential long-term damage to your mouth.
While it may seem that losing just one tooth won't have any serious affect on the rest of your mouth, the truth is that single tooth loss can lead to many different problems down the road. These problems may include: Malocclusion or a misaligned bite. Uneven, premature wear and tear on the remaining teeth.
According to the American Dental Association, there are approximately 57% of people ages 65 to 74 wearing some form of denture.
The idea that everyone ends up with dentures when they get older is a misconception. Not everyone loses their natural teeth. In fact, if you take good care of your teeth, they should last your entire life. If you want to lower your chances of needing dentures later in life, you need to practice proper oral hygiene now.
Gum disease—Also known as periodontal disease, gum disease is the No. 1 cause of tooth loss in adults. It is a serious infection that affects the soft tissue and bone supporting your teeth. Without treatment, gum disease can destroy the supporting bone and cause tooth loss.
It's a long process that can start in your teens, and one that can be triggered by various factors. In some cases, there is nothing people can do to reduce their chances of developing the condition. Some people inherit thin and fragile gums which recede more easily.