Old people lose teeth due to several factors. The most common causes involve poor oral hygiene and wrong eating habits. In the absence of proper brushing and flossing plaque begins to build up on and between the teeth over a period of several years. The dentists recommend brushing teeth twice a day right from the childhood and flossing teeth at least once a day.
In the absence of proper oral hygiene, the bacteria begin to build up in the mouth and gradually eat away the enamel, the protective layer of teeth, to expose the sensitive parts of teeth. This further develops into cavities in the mouth. Over a period of several years, many cavities develop in the mouth and gums may also get inflamed and infected. Thus, tooth decay and gum inflammation together make the tissues supporting teeth weak and fragile. Eventually this causes tooth decay in elderly people.
Wrong eating habits also put a great stress on teeth. Some people eat lots of sweets, candies and other sweet things quite frequently. Sugar causes tooth decay and when too much sugar consumption is combined with poor oral hygiene habits then it becomes a sure shot way to lose teeth early.
In order to retain teeth for your entire life time, make sure to brush and floss regularly, eat a calcium, protein and nutrients rich diet and visit your dentist regularly for check-ups.