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Stay on Track with Routine Dental Care
Your mouth can signal trouble before a repair is needed.
Just like regular car maintenance helps keep you moving forward, preventive dental care helps support how your whole body feels and functions. When routine care is delayed, small, often silent changes can build over time — and your mouth can often be the first place they appear.
The timeline below shows what research suggests can happen if routine dental care isn’t maintained, how your mouth might signal something is wrong and what that could mean for your overall wellness.
Months 0 to 12
Early and Silent Signs
A New Route Begins
Right after preventive care, your mouth is at its healthiest baseline.
Good hygiene habits and early intervention help reduce tooth decay, gum disease and tooth loss — supporting a strong foundation.
And that foundation matters! Research shows that better oral health in older adults is linked with improved physical health, emotional well-being and overall quality of life.1
- “Preventing Oral Diseases and Conditions in Communities,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov, May 15, 2024.
Month 6
The First Maintenance Delay
As time passes without routine preventive care, early changes, including gum disease, can begin quietly.
At this point, you would be due for a check up, which would help you stay at your healthy baseline. You might feel fine, but oral issues, like gum disease, could still be developing.
More than half of adults aged 65 and older have some level of gum disease,1 and early changes often aren’t painful or easy to notice.2
- “Gum Disease: By the Numbers,” NIH MedlinePlus Magazine, Magazine.MedlinePlus.gov, July 2, 2024.
- “Periodontal (Gum) Disease,” Cleveland Clinic, My.ClevelandClinic.org, April 10, 2023.
Month 9
Under-the-Hood Changes
When gum disease continues unchecked, inflammation may impact other areas of the body.
The American Heart Association reports that periodontal (gum) disease is associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and peripheral artery disease.1
These possible links show how oral inflammation can influence the entire body over longer periods of time.
- “Gum Disease May Be Linked to Plaque Buildup in Arteries, Higher Risk of Major CVD Events,” American Heart Association, Newsroom.Heart.org, December 16, 2025.
Month 12
Possible Missed Warnings
After a year without preventive dental care, you may have missed out on early detection of certain conditions.
The risk of oral cancer increases with age1, and dentists and dental hygienists are trained to spot them in routine exams.
As NIDCR reveals, oral cancer incidence increases with age — more rapidly after age 50, particularly for adults 65 and older.1 Preventive care supports early detection — an important part of overall wellness.
- “Oral Cancer Incidence (New Cases) by Age, Race, and Sex,” National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIDCR.nih.gov, last reviewed January 2025.
Inflammation Gauge
Consistent preventive care can help keep inflammation in check — and dental coverage can help support that care over time.
Month 6
The First Maintenance Delay
As time passes without routine preventive care, early changes, including gum disease, can begin quietly.
At this point, you would be due for a check up, which would help you stay at your healthy baseline. You might feel fine, but oral issues, like gum disease, could still be developing.
More than half of adults aged 65 and older have some level of gum disease,1 and early changes often aren’t painful or easy to notice.2
- “Gum Disease: By the Numbers,” NIH MedlinePlus Magazine, Magazine.MedlinePlus.gov, July 2, 2024.
- “Periodontal (Gum) Disease,” Cleveland Clinic, My.ClevelandClinic.org, April 10, 2023.
Month 12
Possible Missed Warnings
After a year without preventive dental care, you may have missed out on early detection of certain conditions.
The risk of oral cancer increases with age1, and dentists and dental hygienists are trained to spot them in routine exams.
As NIDCR reveals, oral cancer incidence increases with age — more rapidly after age 50, particularly for adults 65 and older.1 Preventive care supports early detection — an important part of overall wellness.
- “Oral Cancer Incidence (New Cases) by Age, Race, and Sex,” National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIDCR.nih.gov, last reviewed January 2025.
A New Route Begins
Right after preventive care, your mouth is at its healthiest baseline.
Good hygiene habits and early intervention help reduce tooth decay, gum disease and tooth loss — supporting a strong foundation.
And that foundation matters! Research shows that better oral health in older adults is linked with improved physical health, emotional well-being and overall quality of life.1
- “Preventing Oral Diseases and Conditions in Communities,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov, May 15, 2024.
Month 9
Under-the-Hood Changes
When gum disease continues unchecked, inflammation may impact other areas of the body.
The American Heart Association reports that periodontal (gum) disease is associated with an increased risk of major cardiovascular events, including heart attack, stroke, atrial fibrillation, heart failure and peripheral artery disease.1
These possible links show how oral inflammation can influence the entire body over longer periods of time.
- “Gum Disease May Be Linked to Plaque Buildup in Arteries, Higher Risk of Major CVD Events,” American Heart Association, Newsroom.Heart.org, December 16, 2025.
Inflammation Gauge
Consistent preventive care can help keep inflammation in check — and dental coverage can help support that care over time.
Months 13 to 24
Everyday Effects
Month 15
Fuel Quality Changes
When teeth are painful or missing due to dental problems, people may choose softer, less nutritious foods.
Studies show that older adults with chewing difficulty tend to consume less protein and fewer calories, increasing the risk of malnutrition over time.1
Protecting oral comfort with preventive care helps support good nutrition and keeps you active and strong.
- “Oral Health Among Elderly, Impact on Life Quality, Access of Elderly Patients to Oral Health Services and Methods to Improve Oral Health: A Narrative Review,” National Library of Medicine (PMC), February 28, 2022.
Month 18
Comfort and Confidence
Oral discomfort or tooth changes may begin to impact your confidence in social situations.
Research shows that older adults experiencing tooth loss or oral pain are significantly more likely to report embarrassment, reluctance to smile or concerns about speech.1
These changes can reduce social engagement, which is an important part of emotional well-being and everyday connection.
- “Understanding the Mental-Dental Health Connection Said to Be Integral to Patient Care,” Psychiatry Online, June 27, 2023.
Road Improvements Ahead
Preventive care can help you get your oral health back on track — and dental coverage can help make that care possible.
Month 24
Unexpected Repairs
Skipping routine care can make small problems grow into more costly repairs down the road.
Consistent dental care matters even more later in life — research reveals about 7 in 10 retirees have gum disease, and 1 in 5 have untreated tooth decay.1
Left untreated, these conditions can require more complex dental treatment and contribute to higher, less predictable health care costs.
- “Unique Oral Health Needs Among Elderly Individuals,” CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, CareQuest.org, November 20, 2023.
Month 15
Fuel Quality Changes
When teeth are painful or missing due to dental problems, people may choose softer, less nutritious foods.
Studies show that older adults with chewing difficulty tend to consume less protein and fewer calories, increasing the risk of malnutrition over time.1
Protecting oral comfort with preventive care helps support good nutrition and keeps you active and strong.
- “Oral Health Among Elderly, Impact on Life Quality, Access of Elderly Patients to Oral Health Services and Methods to Improve Oral Health: A Narrative Review,” National Library of Medicine (PMC), February 28, 2022.
Road Improvements Ahead
Preventive care can help you get your oral health back on track — and dental coverage can help make that care possible.
Month 18
Comfort and Confidence
Oral discomfort or tooth changes may begin to impact your confidence in social situations.
Research shows that older adults experiencing tooth loss or oral pain are significantly more likely to report embarrassment, reluctance to smile or concerns about speech.1
These changes can reduce social engagement, which is an important part of emotional well-being and everyday connection.
- “Understanding the Mental-Dental Health Connection Said to Be Integral to Patient Care,” Psychiatry Online, June 27, 2023.
Month 24
Unexpected Repairs
Skipping routine care can make small problems grow into more costly repairs down the road.
Consistent dental care matters even more later in life — research reveals about 7 in 10 retirees have gum disease, and 1 in 5 have untreated tooth decay.1
Left untreated, these conditions can require more complex dental treatment and contribute to higher, less predictable health care costs.
- “Unique Oral Health Needs Among Elderly Individuals,” CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, CareQuest.org, November 20, 2023.
Months 25 to 36
The Return to Care
Nutritional Efficiency
Protecting your oral health with preventive care helps ensure oral comfort and good nutrition.
Month 30
System-Wide Impact
Dental problems can negatively affect mobility, independence and overall wellness.1
When dental issues go untreated, discomfort or difficulty eating can lead to decreased activity, which may affect mobility, independence, cognitive function and cause inflammation throughout the body.
Research shows that chronic inflammation has been linked to serious health conditions, including diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and certain cancers.2
- “Oral Health Among Elderly, Impact on Life Quality, Access of Elderly Patients to Oral Health Services and Methods to Improve Oral Health: A Narrative Review,” National Library of Medicine (PMC), February 28, 2022.
- “How Inflammation Affects Your Health,” Yale Medicine, YaleMedicine.org, April 8, 2022.
Month 36
Getting Back in Gear
It’s not too late to refocus on your oral health. Even after a long gap, getting back to routine oral care can support comfort, function and overall health.
The CDC finds that for older adults, renewed daily care and professional support can make a positive difference in oral health — helping reduce inflammation, slow disease progression and support the bone and tissues that hold teeth in place.1
And with dental coverage from Physicians Mutual, it’s easier to get back on track and plan ahead with confidence.
- “About Periodontal (Gum) Disease,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov, May 15, 2024.
Month 30
System-Wide Impact
Dental problems can negatively affect mobility, independence and overall wellness.1
When dental issues go untreated, discomfort or difficulty eating can lead to decreased activity, which may affect mobility, independence, cognitive function and cause inflammation throughout the body.
Research shows that chronic inflammation has been linked to serious health conditions, including diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease and certain cancers.2
- “Oral Health Among Elderly, Impact on Life Quality, Access of Elderly Patients to Oral Health Services and Methods to Improve Oral Health: A Narrative Review,” National Library of Medicine (PMC), February 28, 2022.
- “How Inflammation Affects Your Health,” Yale Medicine, YaleMedicine.org, April 8, 2022.
Nutritional Efficiency
Protecting your oral health with preventive care helps ensure oral comfort and good nutrition.
Month 36
Getting Back in Gear
It’s not too late to refocus on your oral health. Even after a long gap, getting back to routine oral care can support comfort, function and overall health.
The CDC finds that for older adults, renewed daily care and professional support can make a positive difference in oral health — helping reduce inflammation, slow disease progression and support the bone and tissues that hold teeth in place.1
And with dental coverage from Physicians Mutual, it’s easier to get back on track and plan ahead with confidence.
- “About Periodontal (Gum) Disease,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.gov, May 15, 2024.
Stay on track with great dental insurance!
With Physicians Mutual Dental Insurance, you’ll have:
- No deductibles, no annual maximum on cash benefits
- Benefits for over 400 covered procedures
- 100% coverage for preventive care when you use a network dentist