Good oral health is key to quality of life. When your mouth is healthy, you can eat the foods you need for good nutrition and can feel better about smiling, talking, and laughing. However, periodontal (gum) disease — an infection of the gums and tissues that hold teeth in place — can harm oral health and is a leading cause of tooth loss among older adults. Because it’s an important topic for seniors, a section on gum disease has just been added to NIHSeniorHealth.gov. It’s the premier health and wellness website for older adults developed by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and the National Library of Medicine (NLM), both part of the National Institutes of Health.

“The new periodontal disease section on NIHSeniorHealth.gov is an excellent source of easy-to-understand information that will help older people learn about periodontal disease and how they can prevent it,” said Lawrence A. Tabak, D.D.S., Ph.D., director of NIH’s National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. “Periodontal disease does not have to be a part of aging. Proper dental hygiene and regular dental visits can help people reduce their chance of developing periodontal disease as they age.”