Oral Problems for Seniors
Modern medicine has enabled people to live longer than ever. It is also allowing many of us to keep our teeth well into our senior years. The days of someone having dentures by the age of 40 are long gone. Seniors today are keeping their natural teeth far into their golden years. Our goal is to make sure they keep them forever!
Modern Dentistry
Oral care tools have improved considerably since the days of simple tooth brushes. Today, the dental tools available to everyone can help extend the life of our natural teeth. In addition to toothbrushes and floss, we now have tongue brushes, interdental cleaners (specifically for cleaning between the teeth), whitening mouthwash and toothpaste, etc… But, if they are not used, they are not doing us very much good. As seniors, it is important to make use of all the tools at our disposal and to use them properly to extend the life of our natural teeth.
Oral Challenges for Seniors
Attrition – this is just the simple wear and tear teeth take over the years. Obviously, the longer someone lives, the more attrition takes its toll. Enamels wear down, making the teeth more susceptible to decay. And yes, you can still get cavities in your 60s, 70s, and 80s.
Disease – several oral conditions are more prevalent in seniors than others. Have your dentist check regularly for oral thrush, mouth cancer, and other gum disease. To be proactive, it may mean changing your twice-yearly checkups to three or even four times a year.
Dry Mouth – this is far more common than you would think in seniors, and it quite dangerous. When saliva is not readily produced to offset acids in the mouth, tooth decay and gum disease are inevitable. This can happen naturally, but in many cases, it is due to medications being taken. The Center for Disease Control estimates there are more than 400 common medications with the side effect of dry mouth.
Root Decay – as people get older, their gums can naturally start to recede. This can expose the roots of the teeth, making them more susceptible to decay.
Maintaining Your Oral Health
While these challenges seem daunting, there are some very basic things that can be done to counter these problems.
Add Fluoride – this can be done by checking your water supply, adding a fluoride toothpaste, and using a fluoride mouthwash (also look for fluoride mouthwashes that have antibacterial properties).
Hydrate – stay hydrated all the time. Because medications may cause dry mouth, chew a sugar free gum throughout the day to counter its effects. Seniors should also avoid alcohol, which causes dehydration.
No Tobacco – as we all know, virtually every type of tobacco can lead to some type of cancer, in addition to numerous other health problems.
Dental costs can be overwhelming, especially for seniors on a fixed income. To offset these costs, consider using a New Hampshire discount dental plan for seniors. For more information and to find out how you can save as much as 20 percent off your dental bills, click here.
