How to Care for Your Teeth as You Get Older

As people get older, it can be more difficult to properly care for their teeth. According to the Washington Post , 20% of people over the age of 75 have not been to the dentist in the past five years. This is concerning because as teeth age, they become more susceptible to disease, which poses other health risks. It is important to understand the aging process of teeth and what can be done to help prevent or mitigate any damage.

Saliva is an important part of keeping teeth clean. As people age, however, there are many medications which include dry mouth as a side effect. To prevent dry mouth from damaging teeth, WebMD suggests chewing sugar-free gum and using mouthwash twice a day. Both of these habits will increase the amount of saliva produced.

MedlinePlus has reported that people over 55 are more susceptible to oral cancer, especially men. The risk of oral cancer increases for smokers, alcohol drinkers, and people with poor dental hygiene. Prevent Cancer wrote that the risk of oral cancer can be reduced by eating properly, limiting drinking, and using lip balm with sunscreen in it when outside.

As teeth age, the enamel starts to wear away which causes the teeth to have a yellow appearance due to the dentin showing through. Though it's impossible to replace completely eroded enamel, the enamel still on the tooth can be strengthened. According to Colgate , choosing a toothpaste with calcium and fluoride will help prevent further enamel loss. Also, it is important to floss and brush twice a day, because acidic foods and drinks can also cause enamel to wear down.

At Marie Simon Dentistry , we will do a comprehensive checkup of aging teeth to identify any issues now or down the road. We will discuss all care options and provide a treatment plan best suited to your needs. To make a geriatric dentist appointment, or for any other dental questions, be sure to contact us.