Adult Oral Health

There are threats to oral health across the lifespan. Nearly one-third of all adults in the United States have untreated tooth decay. One in seven adults aged 35 to 44 years has gum disease; this increases to one in every four adults aged 65 years and older. In addition, nearly a quarter of all adults have experienced some facial pain in the past six months. Oral cancers are most common in older adults, particularly those over 55 years who smoke and are heavy drinkers.

More Information on Adult Oral Health

• Fact Sheets
• MMWRs and Journal Articles
• Oral Cancer: Overview
  

Additional Resources

The Oral Health of Older Americans
A research brief produced by the National Center for Health Statistics in its Aging Trends series