As we age, the need to maintain good dental health becomes important. You will soon notice that your “carefree” days with your teeth are over and if you have taken it for granted during your younger years, this will be the time you’ll pay for your unhealthy ways. Although aging in itself plays a little in your dental problems, physical changes in which your body submits to when aging affect your dental health tremendously.
Some of the dental problems a senior is most likely to encounter are:
• Teeth discoloration. Yellowing or darkening of teeth is common among seniors. This may be caused by treatments you have had—or having—such as radiation treatments for cancer. Liver problems can also cause tooth discoloration. Then, of course, there is the matter of consuming teeth-staining substances.
• Dry mouth. Seniors are noted for this condition since most age-related diseases and illnesses cause dryness of the mouth. Again, radiation treatments especially those applied to the upper areas of the body such as head and neck cause reduction of the saliva in the mouth. Xerostomia is very common among seniors, since most medications taken by them bring about this condition.
• Impaired sense of taste. The number of taste buds in your tongue decreases as you age. If you are taking medications, be aware of their side effects as diminished sensitivity of taste can be one of them. Also, smoking dulls your sense of taste.
• Dental Carries. According to NIDCR, 92% of seniors have had dental carries and 5% of older adults 65 and above have no teeth at all. 23% of this group has untreated tooth decay.
• Periodontal disease. Seniors are more vulnerable to gum disease since the said condition is present when there is wear and tear in the mouth. Poorly fitted dentures can be a cause, so is poor diet and smoking.
• Tooth loss. As you age, your gum naturally recedes. Gum recession usually starts at age 40, worse, if you don’t take care of your teeth really good as periodontal disease is the leading cause of tooth loss.
• Stomatitis. Common characteristics of stomatitis are mouth ulcers and inflammation. Ill fitting dentures can cause stomatitis as well as viral and fungal infections.
• Thrush. This condition is caused by fungal infection, or better known as yeast infection, which develops in the mouth, particularly in the throat and tongue. Impaired immune system can brought about this type of infection in the mouth.
To help combat these mouth problems, it is important for seniors to always practice good dental hygiene such as brushing of teeth twice a day and flossing on a regular basis. It won’t also hurt to meet your doctor twice a year or as often as needed.
