The effects of aging can be seen in every single part of the body, including your smile. While dental issues are a possibility for any person at any age, certain problems become much more common as the years go by. Knowing what to look out for cannot only help you protect your parents’ and older relatives’ pearly whites, but also your own! By thinking ahead, you can ensure you’ll have a golden smile for your golden years.
Inadequate Hygiene
No matter how many candles are on someone’s birthday cake, they should ideally brush their teeth twice a day for two minutes each and floss in the evening. As we get older, this can become a bit trickier due to mobility/dexterity issues stemming from conditions like arthritis. Simply remembering to brush and floss can also be difficult because of cognitive decline or something as serious as Alzheimer’s.
Consistent hygiene is the most effective way to prevent the vast majority of dental issues, including cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss. If any of the issues above sound familiar, upgrading to an electric toothbrush and receiving professional cleanings more than twice a year can be a big help. Also, while it might require some adjustment, simply setting a reminder to brush and floss can lower someone’s mental load.
Dry Mouth
As you can probably guess, dry mouth is a condition where a person doesn’t produce enough saliva. This can create the ideal environment for harmful oral bacteria to multiply, leading to infection. It’s something that commonly impacts seniors because it’s a side effect of many medications.
In many cases, simply sipping water throughout the day can be a big help. Or, a person can talk to their doctor about changing up their medications or taking special tablets specifically meant to help with dry mouth.
Tooth Loss
Why is tooth loss so common in older adults? This problem is actually downstream of another common issue—gum disease. It’s a bacterial infection that weakens the soft tissues and bone that support the teeth, making them unstable.
As touched on above, keeping up with daily oral hygiene can largely stop gum disease and tooth loss before it happens. However, if someone is already missing teeth, it’s paramount that they be replaced sooner rather than later. An incomplete smile can make it more difficult for a person to maintain a healthy diet or strong social connections because they don’t feel comfortable speaking or smiling. Thankfully, there are many replacement options available today, including dental implants that resemble natural teeth in every way possible.
Everyone is going to get older, but that doesn’t mean your smile has to become a thing of the past. By taking great care of your teeth at home and working with your dentist, you can enjoy timeless teeth and strong oral health that will ensure the future always seems bright.
About the Author
Dr. Michael Kirk has taken care of Oklahoma City smiles for over 30 years. In that time, he has helped thousands of patients avoid the need for more advanced dental work just using simple checkups and cleanings as well as rebuilt smiles using dental implants. If you’re ready to safeguard your health against time or help a loved one get their oral health back on track, click here or call Grand Dental Studio at (405) 848-3719.