As we age, we notice many obvious signs of aging, such as wrinkled skin, loss of hair, diminished eyesight, loss of stamina, the list goes on. Many changes do occur in the human dentition, some being normal while many are preventable. Some people believe that the loss of all their teeth is a normal part of aging. Before the introduction of refined sugar and over- processed food, the lost of an entire dentition was probably an extremely rare occurrence. With today’s modern dentistry and nutritional information, one can keep most, if not all of their teeth for a lifetime.
There are, however, changes which occur as we age which are inevitable. For example, under normal wear our teeth get a little shorter. This is accelerated if several of your back teeth have been removed. Another change is the darkening of our teeth. Dentists can now reverse this by a simple bleaching process.
Older adults will often complain of dry mouth, caused by a reduction in salivary flow, which is often aggravated by some medical conditions or the medicines used to treat them (high blood pressure etc…).
Left untreated, dry mouth can damage your teeth. A lack of saliva can also cause dentures to hurt from irritation, and can reduce their retention. Without adequate saliva to lubricate your mouth, wash away food, and neutralize the acids produced by plaque, extensive cavities can form.
Cavities are not just for kids, because in the older dentition, cavities are a problem around the gumline on the roots, while the young have cavities in the crowns of their teeth. Contrary to popular belief, cavities can be a problem among older adults.You may find that you are losing your sense of taste as you age, and denture wearers always sense this more since many of their taste buds are covered by dentures. Mastication and digestion is also drastically diminished as teeth are lost.
Older adults will often complain of dry mouth, caused by a reduction in salivary flow, which is often aggravated by some medical conditions or the medicines used to treat them (high blood pressure etc…) .
Probably the most common change with age is periodontal disease (gum disease). This condition must be treated as soon as it is diagnosed since when left untreated, it becomes much more difficult to control. However the myth that tooth loss is inevitable with age, because of periodontal disease, is false. The importance of regular cleanings (minimum twice/year) cannot be over emphasized. Signs to look for are gums that are red, swollen, tender, bleed easily, as well as loose, drifting teeth.
Please remember that every tooth in your mouth plays a vital role in chewing, speaking and in maintaining the proper alignment of other teeth. Tooth loss isn’t an inevitable part of aging, but if you do lose teeth, they should be replaced for your mouth to function properly.
There are, however, changes which occur as we age which are inevitable. For example, under normal wear our teeth get a little shorter. This is accelerated if several of your back teeth have been removed. Another change is the darkening of our teeth. Dentists can now reverse this by a simple bleaching process.
Older adults will often complain of dry mouth, caused by a reduction in salivary flow, which is often aggravated by some medical conditions or the medicines used to treat them (high blood pressure etc…).
Left untreated, dry mouth can damage your teeth. A lack of saliva can also cause dentures to hurt from irritation, and can reduce their retention. Without adequate saliva to lubricate your mouth, wash away food, and neutralize the acids produced by plaque, extensive cavities can form.
Cavities are not just for kids, because in the older dentition, cavities are a problem around the gumline on the roots, while the young have cavities in the crowns of their teeth. Contrary to popular belief, cavities can be a problem among older adults.You may find that you are losing your sense of taste as you age, and denture wearers always sense this more since many of their taste buds are covered by dentures. Mastication and digestion is also drastically diminished as teeth are lost.
Older adults will often complain of dry mouth, caused by a reduction in salivary flow, which is
often aggravated by some medical conditions or the medicines used to treat them (high blood pressure etc…) .
Please remember that every tooth in your mouth plays a vital role in chewing, speaking and in maintaining the proper alignment of other teeth. Tooth loss isn’t an inevitable part of aging, but if you do lose teeth, they should be replaced for your mouth to function properly.