Periodontitis, the advanced form of gum disease, is an infection and inflammation of the tissues and bone that support the teeth. It is one of the most common chronic conditions in American adults and a leading cause of tooth loss.
This page brings together the most recent published statistics for the United States, California, and Los Angeles County. It is intended for journalists, health writers, researchers, and patients. We link each number to its primary source and note where the data have limits.
01
Key Periodontal Disease Statistics at a Glance
42%
of U.S. adults 30+ with natural teeth had periodontitis (NHANES 2009–2014)[2]
7.8%
of U.S. adults 30+ had severe periodontitis[2]
~60%
of U.S. adults 65+ had periodontitis[1]
37%
of Los Angeles-area adults have lost at least one permanent tooth to dental disease (2022)[4]
30%
of LA County adults rate the condition of their teeth fair or poor (2021–2022)[4]
1 in 3
LA County adults did not have a dental visit in the past year (2022–2023)[4]
02
How Common Is Gum Disease in the United States?
The most reliable national data come from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), in which examiners measured gum pocket depth and attachment loss at six sites on every tooth. Between 2009 and 2014, an estimated 42% of dentate U.S. adults aged 30 and older had periodontitis, and 7.8% had severe periodontitis.[2]
The earlier 2009–2010 cycle alone put the figure at 47.2%, representing 64.7 million adults: 8.7% mild, 30.0% moderate, and 8.5% severe. In that cycle, 64% of adults 65 and older had moderate or severe periodontitis. The 47.2% figure should always carry its 2009–2010 date rather than be presented as today’s prevalence.[3]
| Measure (U.S. adults 30+ with natural teeth) | Estimate | Survey years |
|---|---|---|
| Any periodontitis | 42% | 2009–2014 |
| Severe periodontitis | 7.8% | 2009–2014 |
| Adults 65+ with periodontitis | ~60% | 2009–2014 |
| Men with any periodontitis | ~1 in 2 | 2009–2014 |
| Women with any periodontitis | ~1 in 3 | 2009–2014 |
| Adults with periodontitis (count) | 64.7 million | 2009–2010 |
03
Who Is Most at Risk for Periodontitis?
Periodontitis is not evenly distributed. CDC analysis of the 2009–2014 NHANES data shows rates well above the national average among smokers, older adults, people with diabetes, and people living in poverty.[1]
Share of U.S. adults 30+ with periodontitis, by group (2009–2014)
- Current smokers62%
- Adults 65 and older60%
- Living below 100% of the federal poverty level60%
- Living with diabetes60%
- Mexican American adults60%
- Non-Hispanic Black adults57%
- All U.S. adults 30 and older42%
The CDC also lists poor oral hygiene, stress, genetics, hormonal changes, poor nutrition, obesity, and medications that reduce saliva as risk factors.[1] These groups are a large share of Los Angeles County’s population, which is one reason local access to preventive care matters.
04
Gum Disease and Tooth Loss in Los Angeles
No clinical periodontitis rate is published for Los Angeles County (see methodology). The closest local measure is tooth loss caused by dental disease, meaning teeth removed because of decay or gum disease, not orthodontics or injury. The LA County Department of Public Health tracks this through the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS).[4]
| Indicator (2022) | Los Angeles area | California | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adults 18+ who lost any permanent tooth to dental disease | 37% | 37% | 40% |
| Adults 65+ who have lost all natural teeth | 6% | 7% | 12% |
| Adults 18+ rating their teeth fair or poor (2021–2022) | 30% | 27% | — |
Los Angeles-area tooth-loss figures cover the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metropolitan area (Los Angeles and Orange Counties) and are age-adjusted. U.S. figures are crude prevalence. Self-rated condition of teeth comes from the California Health Interview Survey. Source: LA County DPH Chartbook, October 2025.[4]
Los Angeles-area adults who have lost at least one permanent tooth to dental disease
Tooth loss rises steeply with age and is higher among lower-income adults. California-wide in 2022 (LA County samples were too small for subgroup estimates):[4]
- 61% of adults 65+ had lost at least one tooth to dental disease, compared with 12% of adults 18–24.
- 51% of adults with household incomes under $15,000 had tooth loss, compared with 32% of those earning more than $50,000.
- 53% of adults without a high school diploma had tooth loss, compared with 28% of college graduates.
- 50% of Black adults had tooth loss, compared with 36% of White adults.
Among LA County adults, fair or poor self-rated teeth were significantly more common in older adults, lower-income adults, adults without a college degree, Asian, Black, and Latinx adults, and adults who speak a language other than English at home.[4]
05
Dental Care Access in Los Angeles County
Regular periodontal checks are how gum disease is found early, when it is most treatable. In LA County, 67% of adults had a dental visit in the past year (2022–2023), similar to California (69%) and the U.S. (66%). Among those adults, 69% said their last visit was a routine checkup or cleaning, 16% went for a specific problem, and 15% for both.[4]
Visits fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, from 71% in 2018 to 60% in 2021, before recovering to 67% in 2022 and 2023. Among LA County adults with diagnosed diabetes, a group with higher periodontitis risk, 63% had a dental visit in the past year.[4]
LA County adults with dental insurance
Dental insurance coverage has risen steadily, from 52% of LA County adults in 2013 to 70% in 2023. Coverage gaps remain (2022–2023):[4]
| LA County adults 18+ (2022–2023) | Have dental insurance |
|---|---|
| All adults | 69% |
| Income above 200% of federal poverty level | 76% |
| Income below 200% of federal poverty level | 57% |
| Adults 18–64 | 71% |
| Adults 65+ | 62% |
| College graduates | 79% |
| Less than high school | 51% |
| Speak no English at home | 52% |
Some untreated dental problems end up in the emergency room. LA County’s rate of emergency department visits for non-traumatic dental conditions rose from 240 to 278 per 100,000 residents between 2012–2016 and 2017–2019, below California’s rate of 360. Adults 18–34 and Black residents had the highest rates.[4] Earlier county data showed that about 75% of adults enrolled in Medi-Cal Dental did not have an annual dental visit.[5]
06
Global Context
Worldwide, the World Health Organization estimates that oral diseases affect nearly 3.7 billion people, and that severe periodontal diseases account for more than 1 billion cases.[6]
Oral health also affects quality of life. In an American Dental Association Health Policy Institute survey of California adults (2015 data), about 3 in 10 said they avoid smiling because of the condition of their mouth and teeth, 1 in 4 felt embarrassment, and 1 in 5 experienced anxiety.[7]
07
Methodology and Data Limitations
- Periodontitis requires a clinical exam to measure. National prevalence comes from NHANES full-mouth periodontal exams using CDC/American Academy of Periodontology case definitions. NHANES is designed for national estimates and does not report county-level rates.
- The national estimates cover 2009–2014. These full-mouth NHANES exam results are the figures the CDC currently cites for adult periodontitis prevalence.
- Local indicators are proxies. Tooth loss, self-rated condition of teeth, dental visits, and insurance are self-reported survey measures (BRFSS and CHIS). They are related to periodontal health but are not a diagnosis of gum disease.
- Geography differs by source. BRFSS tooth-loss figures for “Los Angeles” cover the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metropolitan area. CHIS figures cover Los Angeles County.
- Adjustment differs by source. LA and California tooth-loss rates are age-adjusted, and U.S. rates are crude, as reported by the LA County Department of Public Health.
We will update this page when the CDC or the LA County Department of Public Health publishes new data.
08
FAQs: Periodontal Disease Statistics
What percentage of adults have gum disease?
About 42% of U.S. adults aged 30 and older with natural teeth had periodontitis in 2009–2014, and 7.8% had severe periodontitis, according to CDC researchers analyzing NHANES data (Eke et al., JADA 2018).
How common is gum disease in older adults?
About 60% of U.S. adults aged 65 and older had periodontitis in 2009–2014, according to the CDC.
Is there a periodontitis prevalence rate specific to Los Angeles?
No county-level clinical estimate is published. Periodontitis is measured with a full-mouth clinical exam in the national NHANES survey, which does not produce county estimates. Los Angeles data instead track related indicators, such as tooth loss from dental disease, self-rated condition of teeth, dental visits, and dental insurance.
How many Los Angeles adults have lost teeth to dental disease?
In 2022, 37% of adults in the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim metropolitan area had at least one permanent tooth removed because of tooth decay or gum disease (age-adjusted), compared with 40% of U.S. adults (crude), based on CDC BRFSS data reported by the LA County Department of Public Health.
Who is most at risk for periodontitis?
CDC data show higher rates among current smokers (about 62%), adults 65 and older, people with diabetes, adults living below the federal poverty level, and Mexican American adults (each about 60%), and non-Hispanic Black adults (57%). About 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women aged 30 and older had some level of periodontitis.
Can I use these statistics in my article?
Yes. Please cite the original source listed for each figure and link to this page as the compilation source.
09
Sources and How to Cite This Page
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Periodontal (Gum) Disease. Last reviewed May 15, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/about/gum-periodontal-disease.html
- Eke PI, Thornton-Evans GO, Wei L, Borgnakke WS, Dye BA, Genco RJ. Periodontitis in US Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2014. J Am Dent Assoc. 2018;149(7):576–588.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adaj.2018.04.023
- Eke PI, Dye BA, Wei L, Thornton-Evans GO, Genco RJ. Prevalence of periodontitis in adults in the United States: 2009 and 2010. J Dent Res. 2012;91:914–920. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022034512457373
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Oral Health Program. Chartbook: The Oral Health of Los Angeles County’s Residents. October 2025. http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ohp/docs/LA-OH-Data-Chartbook.pdf
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Oral Health Program. Oral Health in Los Angeles County: Disease Burden and Prevention Report 2021. April 2021. http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/ohp/docs/Burden%20of%20Disease.pdf
- World Health Organization. Oral health fact sheet. March 17, 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health
- American Dental Association Health Policy Institute. Oral Health and Well-Being in California (2015 survey data). https://www.ada.org/-/media/project/ada-organization/ada/ada-org/files/resources/research/hpi/oralhealthwell-being-statefacts/California-Oral-Health-Well-Being.pdf
Suggested citation
Sterling Periodontics & Implantology. “Periodontal Disease Statistics: Los Angeles, California & U.S. (2026).” September 25, 2026. https://www.sterlingperiodontics.com/periodontal-disease-statistics-los-angeles
You may reuse these statistics and charts with attribution. Please cite the primary source for each figure and link to this page. For media inquiries or a comment from a board-certified periodontist, call (310) 278-3666.
If you have noticed bleeding gums, recession, or loose teeth, see our guide on how gum disease is treated or learn about periodontal treatment in Beverly Hills.
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