Common Dental Problems for Seniors

Proper dental care is always important, but it is especially important to be on the lookout for specific problems as you get older. This is going to mean a little more time looking in the mirror each night at your teeth and possibly more frequent visits to the dentist. Changing your visits from every six months to every four is a small price to pay to make sure you keep those teeth in your mouth yours.

As a senior, your dental care impacts just more than your teeth, too. Various illnesses and health conditions can be linked back to poor oral hygiene or dental issues that go unnoticed.

Most Common Senior Dental Issues

Darker Teeth- as you get older, you may start to notice those pearly whites are not so white anymore. If you drink coffee excessively, or dark sodas and red wine, you may notice your teeth losing their gleam. Smoking can also cause a darkening of the teeth. Teeth whitening treatments may help this, but it could be a sign of other problems.

Dry Mouth & Bad Breath – as we get older, the amount of medicines we take on a daily basis sometimes increases. Unfortunately, one of the side effects of these medications is dry mouth. Chronic dry mouth often causes halitosis, or bad breath. In addition, it can lead to problems with your gums.

Tooth Decay – over the years of your life, your teeth are going to go through a lot of wear and tear, so it is not uncommon to have a cavity pop up during your senior years. You just need to have it dealt with as quickly as possible before it leads to more significant problems.

Tooth Loss – If any of the conditions above are allowed to go on unchecked, tooth loss, or worse, could be the end result.

Inflamed, Red, or Bleeding Gums – when those suffering from dry mouth or the lack of a strong daily oral hygiene program goes on for a long period, gum disease is inevitable. Luckily, even during more advanced stages, your dentist can help to fix these problems and get you back on track.

Now, we realize many seniors are faced with a much lower income than they had during their working years. It sometimes becomes a choice for dental insurance or putting food on the table. Our supplemental New Hampshire discount dental plan for seniors can make these dental bills far less damaging to your savings account.

If you would like to learn more about our supplemental dental coverage and how you can save as much as 20 percent off your dental bills, click here.

Copyright: pressmaster / 123RF Stock Photo