The start of a new year is always a good time to consider what actions you can take to improve your health. As we get into gear with 2019, the dental-care experts at southwest Florida’s Island Tower Dentistry suggest that you may want to consider getting a grip on periodontal disease, the most prevalent oral health disorder in America. Not only do about half of all Americans have some form of the disorder, also commonly referred to as “gum disease,” but it is also the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Its prevalence is even more pronounced in older Americans, with about 70 percent of those older than 65 estimated to have the disease.

While most everybody wants to be able to flash a pearly white smile, that perfect white smile is not necessarily natural, as few people are genetically predisposed to having bright white teeth. In fact, most people’s teeth are naturally a couple of shades darker, and, especially as we age, tinged with yellow or grey.

Most everyone experiences a case of dry mouth on occasion, some to the point at which that parched mouth makes it difficult to swallow, speak or eat. Known as “xerostomia,” dry mouth is a decrease in the amount of saliva produced in one’s mouth. In fact, salivary flow tends to decrease in most individuals as they age, and many people experience excessive dry mouth due to age-related medical conditions and medication side effects.