A Mansfield Dentist’s Guide from Dr. Jiyoung Jung, DDS, FAGD | Central Park Dental & Orthodontics
“Healthy Gums. Healthier Life.”
Key Takeaways
- Gum disease in older adults is widely misunderstood as a normal part of aging — it is not, and that single misconception allows it to silently progress for years before most people seek help
- The earliest signs of gum disease are easy to dismiss or explain away, which is exactly why it becomes the leading cause of tooth loss in adults over 65
- Gum disease is not just an oral health issue — it has measurable connections to heart disease, diabetes, respiratory illness, and cognitive decline
- Preventing and managing gum disease in your 50s, 60s, 70s, and beyond requires a whole-body, wellness-centered approach — not just brushing harder
The Myth That Sets Everything Else in Motion
Here is the misconception I hear more often than almost any other in our Mansfield dental office, and it comes from adults of every age:
“My gums bleed a little, but that’s normal for someone my age, right?”
Or this one:
“My dentist told me years ago I had some gum issues. I figured I’d just deal with it as I got older.”
Or maybe the most common version of all:
“I thought losing a tooth or two as you get older was just… expected.”
None of that is true. And the reason I want to start here — with the myth rather than the medical definition — is that the myth is doing real damage. Quietly, over years, in people who are otherwise taking good care of themselves.
Gum disease does become more common with age. That much is accurate. But common does not mean inevitable. It does not mean untreatable. And it absolutely does not mean you should accept it as part of growing older. The body does not simply decide one day to stop protecting your gums. Something shifts — and when we understand what shifts and why, we can work with it rather than against it.
That’s the conversation I want to have with you today.
What’s Actually Happening in the Mouth as We Age
Let’s talk biology for a moment — in plain terms.
As we get older, several things change in the oral environment. Saliva production tends to decrease, and this matters more than most people realize. Saliva is one of the mouth’s most powerful natural defenses. It neutralizes acids, washes away bacteria, and helps keep the microbial balance in check. When saliva flow drops, that bacterial environment shifts. The kind of bacteria that thrive in a drier environment tend to be exactly the kind that cause periodontal (gum) disease.
At the same time, many medications commonly prescribed to adults over 50 — for blood pressure, depression, allergies, and dozens of other conditions — list dry mouth as a side effect. This is not a coincidence. It’s a compounding factor that most dental conversations don’t adequately address.
The gum tissue itself also changes over time. It becomes slightly thinner, slightly less resilient. Not dramatically — but enough that bacteria that used to be held at bay can now find a foothold. The immune response in the gum tissue can become slower and less efficient. Again, not because the body has given up, but because aging involves change.
Here is what I want you to hold onto: change is not the same as defeat. Understanding how these shifts happen is precisely what allows us to intervene thoughtfully.
If you’re in Mansfield, Arlington, Burleson, or the surrounding areas and you haven’t had a comprehensive periodontal evaluation recently, that’s where I would encourage you to start. Call us at 817-466-1200 — we’re here at 1101 Alexis Ct #101, Mansfield, TX 76063.
The Signs Most Older Adults Explain Away
This is where the silent progression piece becomes so important. Gum disease, particularly in its early and moderate stages, is genuinely easy to rationalize. Let me walk you through the most common warning signs and the explanations people give themselves for ignoring them.
“My gums bleed when I brush — I’m probably just brushing too hard.”
Healthy gums do not bleed with normal brushing. Bleeding is inflammation. Inflammation is your body’s signal that something is wrong. Even occasional bleeding is worth paying attention to, especially if it happens more than once or twice. This is one of the first signs of gingivitis — the earliest, most reversible stage of gum disease — and it’s one that the majority of adults in Mansfield and across the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area dismiss entirely.
“My gums look like they’ve pulled away from my teeth a bit. I thought that was just aging.”
Gum recession — the pulling back of gum tissue from the base of the teeth — can expose the root surfaces and create pockets where bacteria accumulate. It can happen due to gum disease, but also due to improper brushing habits, structural bite issues, or grinding. The cause matters. It needs to be assessed, not assumed away.
“I have a bad taste in my mouth sometimes, or bad breath that doesn’t go away with mouthwash.”
Chronic bad breath — especially the kind that persists despite good home hygiene — is frequently coming from the activity of bacteria living in the pockets between the gums and teeth. It’s not a hygiene failure. It’s a clinical signal.
“Some of my teeth feel a little loose, but I figured that happens when you get older.”
No. Adult teeth should not feel loose. Ever. If they do, periodontal disease has progressed to a stage where the supporting structures — the bone and ligament that hold the teeth in place — are actively breaking down. This is not a cosmetic concern. This is a systemic health conversation.
If any of these resonate, please don’t wait. Reach out to us at Central Park Dental & Orthodontics. Adults from Grand Prairie, Kennedale, Midlothian, and Alvarado come to our Mansfield office because they’re looking for someone who will take their whole picture seriously — not just their teeth.
Why Gum Disease Is a Whole-Body Issue
This is where the conversation gets bigger than the mouth.
The research connecting periodontal disease to systemic health conditions has grown substantially over the past two decades. The relationship is not indirect or speculative. The inflammation and bacteria involved in gum disease can enter the bloodstream and contribute to inflammation throughout the body.
For older adults, this matters in several specific ways.
Cardiovascular health. The bacteria associated with gum disease have been found in arterial plaque. Chronic gum inflammation appears to be associated with elevated cardiovascular risk — not just correlation, but a biological pathway that researchers continue to study closely.
Diabetes. The relationship between gum disease and blood sugar regulation runs in both directions. Uncontrolled blood sugar creates an environment where gum disease worsens. And gum disease, with its systemic inflammation, can make blood sugar harder to manage. For anyone in Mansfield or the South Arlington area managing diabetes or pre-diabetes, periodontal health is not optional — it’s part of the management picture.
Respiratory illness. Bacteria from the mouth can be aspirated into the lungs. For older adults, particularly those with reduced immune function, this increases the risk of respiratory infections and pneumonia. It’s a pathway most people have never heard of, and it’s one more reason that dental care is not a separate category from healthcare.
Cognitive health. This is perhaps the most emerging area. Researchers have been studying the presence of specific oral bacteria — including those associated with gum disease — in the brains of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. The research is still developing, but the signal is present and worth taking seriously.
This is why I think about dentistry differently than just teeth. At Central Park Dental & Orthodontics, we approach oral health as one part of your total wellness picture. Your mouth tells us things. We take the time to listen.
The Three Pillars of Well-Being — Applied to Gum Health
Dr. Jung’s approach to patient care is built around what we call The Three Pillars of Well-Being, and when it comes to gum disease in older adults, all three are directly relevant.
Structural Balance refers to alignment — not just the position of teeth, but how the entire bite functions. When teeth are misaligned or the bite is uneven, certain areas of the gum tissue absorb disproportionate stress. That stress compromises circulation and immune function in those specific areas, making them more vulnerable to periodontal breakdown. A comprehensive evaluation that looks at structural alignment isn’t just about aesthetics — it’s about protecting the tissues that keep your teeth and support your long-term oral health.
Chemical Balance in the Body speaks directly to the oral environment. The chemistry of your saliva, the pH of your mouth, the balance of your oral microbiome, and even systemic factors like nutritional status and medications all shape how your gum tissue responds to bacteria. When we talk about chemical balance, we’re asking: is your body’s internal environment supporting your gums, or working against them? For older adults, addressing dry mouth, nutritional gaps, and systemic inflammation is as important as anything that happens at the dental chair.
Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual Balance matters more than most patients expect. Chronic stress is a well-documented factor in immune suppression, and immune suppression directly affects how well the body contains and fights periodontal bacteria. Stress also frequently worsens grinding and clenching habits, which add mechanical trauma to gum tissue on top of bacterial pressure. When we see gum disease that is worsening despite good home care, we often find that stress is a piece of the puzzle that hasn’t been addressed.
Understanding your gum health through all three of these lenses is what makes our approach at Central Park Dental & Orthodontics different from a standard cleaning and checkup.
What Comprehensive Gum Disease Prevention Actually Looks Like
Let’s get practical. What does proactive gum disease prevention look like for an adult in their 50s, 60s, or 70s?
Professional evaluation with advanced diagnostics
At Central Park Dental & Orthodontics, we use 3D CBCT imaging to give us a three-dimensional view of the bone levels, root structures, and anatomical relationships that a two-dimensional X-ray simply cannot show. For patients with existing gum disease or high risk factors, this level of diagnostic clarity changes what we see and how we plan care. We see what others miss.
Individualized periodontal maintenance
Not everyone with a history of gum disease needs the same maintenance interval. Some patients do very well with standard twice-yearly visits. Others, particularly those who’ve had more advanced disease or who have systemic health factors at play, genuinely benefit from more frequent professional care. This is an individualized conversation — not a one-size-fits-all protocol.
Laser dentistry for gum treatment
We use advanced dental laser technology to address gum disease in ways that are far more comfortable and precise than traditional approaches. Laser-assisted treatments allow us to target diseased tissue and bacteria with accuracy that protects healthy surrounding tissue. This matters enormously for older adults who may have more sensitivity or who want to avoid more invasive procedures.
Home care that’s realistic and effective
The goal isn’t perfection — it’s consistency and technique. Interdental cleaning (the space between teeth) is genuinely the most important home care habit for gum disease prevention, and yet it remains the most skipped step. We spend time in our Mansfield office making sure patients understand how to clean those spaces effectively based on their specific anatomy.
The medication conversation
Because so many medications affect saliva flow and gum tissue health, we take a complete medication history seriously. If dry mouth is a factor for you — whether from medications, health conditions, or age — we address that directly as part of your care plan. Patients from Haltom City, Bedford, Irving, and across the Dallas-Fort Worth area come to us because they want a dentist who thinks about the full picture, not just the surface.
How Gum Disease Progresses If Left Unaddressed — A Timeline of Awareness
Understanding the timeline can help you recognize where you or someone you love might be right now.
Early stage — Gingivitis. Inflammation in the gum tissue. Possible bleeding with brushing. No bone loss yet. Completely reversible with professional care and consistent home hygiene. Most people don’t act at this stage because it doesn’t hurt.
Moderate periodontitis. Bacteria have moved below the gumline. Pockets between the gums and teeth have deepened. Bone loss has begun. The tissue changes are no longer fully reversible, but they are absolutely manageable and stabilizable.
Advanced periodontitis. Significant bone loss. Possible tooth mobility. Gum recession is visible. At this stage, the focus is on preservation — stopping further progression, protecting remaining structure, and restoring function. Treatment is more complex, but the conversation is absolutely worth having.
The tragedy of gum disease is not that it’s untreatable. It’s that most people don’t reach out until they’ve moved well past the stage where options were most plentiful. Across Mansfield, Burleson, Lillian, Sublett, and Britton — across all the communities we serve — there are adults walking around with gum disease at some stage who believe the myth that it’s just what happens when you get older.
It doesn’t have to be.
Featured Recognition
Dr. Jung has been recognized among D Magazine’s Best Dentists from 2021 through 2025, and has been featured on NBC, ABC, FOX, CW, and CBS. That recognition didn’t come from offering the same experience you can find anywhere — it came from a genuine commitment to understanding patients as whole people, not just a set of teeth. Our patients from Arlington, South Arlington, Grand Prairie, and Kennedale know that when they come to Central Park Dental, they’re getting a level of thought and care that goes deeper than a routine cleaning.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gum Disease in Older Adults
Is gum disease really that common in people over 60?
Yes — studies suggest that more than 70% of adults over 65 have some form of periodontal disease. But the key thing to understand is that prevalence doesn’t make it normal or acceptable. It makes it something worth talking about with your dentist proactively.
Can gum disease be reversed at my age?
Gingivitis — the earliest stage — is fully reversible at any age with professional care and consistent home habits. More advanced gum disease can be stabilized and managed very effectively, though the structural changes that have already occurred don’t reverse on their own. The earlier you address it, the more options you have.
Does gum disease actually affect my heart health?
The research in this area has grown significantly. There is a recognized association between periodontal disease and cardiovascular risk, rooted in the way chronic oral inflammation can contribute to systemic inflammation. This doesn’t mean gum disease causes heart disease directly, but the relationship is real and worth taking seriously.
What if I have dry mouth from my medications? Is there anything I can do?
Absolutely. Managing dry mouth is something we address directly at Central Park Dental & Orthodontics. There are several approaches — both in-office and at-home strategies — that can meaningfully improve the oral environment for patients dealing with medication-related dry mouth. This is a conversation worth having at your next visit.
How often should an older adult see the dentist for gum health?
That depends on your individual situation. Some patients with healthy gums and low risk factors do well with twice-yearly visits. Patients with a history of periodontal disease or active risk factors often benefit from more frequent professional care — typically every three to four months. We’ll work with you to determine what makes sense for your specific needs.
My gums don’t hurt at all — does that mean I’m fine?
Not necessarily. Gum disease is famously painless until it’s quite advanced. The absence of pain is one of the main reasons it progresses so silently in so many adults. A professional evaluation is the only reliable way to know what’s actually happening below the gumline.
Can stress actually make my gum disease worse?
Yes, and this is more significant than most people realize. Chronic stress suppresses immune function, and the immune system plays a major role in keeping periodontal bacteria in check. Stress also increases teeth grinding and clenching, which adds mechanical trauma to already vulnerable gum tissue. This is one reason we take the whole-person picture seriously.
What makes Central Park Dental & Orthodontics different for gum disease care?
We approach gum health through a whole-body, wellness-centered lens. We use 3D CBCT imaging for comprehensive evaluation, laser dentistry for treatment, and we take the time to understand each patient’s systemic health, medications, lifestyle, and stress factors — because all of those things matter. If you’ve been looking for a family dentist in Mansfield who sees the bigger picture, we’d love to meet you.
Ready to Have a Real Conversation About Your Gum Health?
If anything in this post resonated with you — if you’ve been explaining away symptoms, or postponing a visit because you assumed gum changes were just part of getting older — this is a good moment to take a different step.
At Central Park Dental & Orthodontics, we welcome adults from Mansfield, Arlington, Burleson, Grand Prairie, Midlothian, Alvarado, and all across the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area who want a dental home that thinks about their whole health.
We’re not here to lecture. We’re here to listen, look carefully, and offer the most thoughtful care we can.
Call us at 817-466-1200 or visit us at 1101 Alexis Ct #101, Mansfield, TX 76063. Our team looks forward to hearing from you.
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Educational Disclaimer
This blog post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The content is written to help patients and families understand gum disease, its relationship to overall health, and general preventive strategies. It is not intended to serve as a diagnosis, a treatment recommendation, or a substitute for individualized professional dental or medical care. Every patient’s situation is unique. Please consult with a qualified dental professional — including Dr. Jiyoung Jung, DDS, FAGD, at Central Park Dental & Orthodontics — to receive advice and care tailored specifically to your oral and overall health needs.
