Dental Care As You Age

An increasing number of older people are able to retain their natural teeth for a much longer time now. This is because of changes in modern family dentistry, widespread oral health education, and the availability of enhanced oral health care tools (like interdental brushes).

Teeth decay is a natural process associated with old age. However, you can keep your teeth in excellent condition by taking special care of them.

Age-related Challenges to Oral Health

It is possible for certain medical conditions to develop as you grow older. It is important that you speak to a dentist practicing family dentistry in Roswell, GA to understand more about these challenges and conditions. In terms of oral health, the following conditions are common.

Dry mouth

Dry mouth is usually caused by physical bodily changes due to age, but can also be a direct result of medications. There are over 400 commonly used drugs that can contribute to dry mouth as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This increases the likelihood of oral diseases as saliva plays an important role in killing bacteria and rebuilding enamel.

Disease

Periodontal diseases become common in older adults because of unchecked plaque formation. You may suffer from frequent thrush, which is an uncontrolled fungal growth. It is possible for severe illnesses to develop as well, including oral cancer.

Root decay

Root decay is often accompanied by gum disease which is characterized by swollen, irritated, and bleeding gums. In this, the roots of your teeth are exposed as the gum recedes, causing accelerated tooth decay as you age.

Attrition

This is also called simple wear and tear which occurs as a result of decades of grinding and chewing. Your teeth are ageing as you and as the enamel begins to wear down, it increases the risk of cavities.

Tips to Maintain Oral Health as You Age

There are several tips laid down that can help protect your teeth and maintain oral health as you age. These include:

Increasing fluoridation

Incorporate a fluoride rinse in your daily oral hygiene routine or consider switching over to fluoride toothpaste.

Avoiding tobacco

Tobacco in every form has been linked to poor oral health and a number of medical conditions. It can increase the likelihood of throat cancer and heart diseases among other conditions. Chewing tobacco formulations are known to contain sugar, which can accelerate tooth decay.

Increasing oral hydration

You can prevent or delay tooth decay by addressing dry mouth. Ask your physician if you can swap your current medications for ones that do not produce dry mouth. If that is not possible, then consider drinking plenty of water and chewing a sugar-free gum. You should also avoid diuretics and alcohol, which may dehydrate the body. Sunshine Smiles Dentistry is a dentist for the elderly. 

Visit our dental team at Sunshine Smiles Dentistry

It is important that you visit an expert in family dentistry near Roswell, GA regularly to keep your teeth in tip-top shape as you grow older. Sunshine Smiles Dentistry provides dental services to seniors on Medicare. To schedule an appointment, call us at 770-998-8116 or book online by clicking on Schedule Online!