The Connection Between Aging and Oral Health: What to Expect as You Get Older

Dental care for the elderly is a specialty of its own…. You’d be happy to know that all dentists, specialists, and medical experts (doctors) are trained for oral healthcare services for seniors.

 

Formally called geriatric dentistry and gerodontics, or, dental care for seniors, this includes everything from detection, prevention, and treatment of issues associated with aging and diseases related to aging.

 

Older patients are at a higher risk of developing tooth and gum issues due to age-related functional changes and comorbidities. In fact, oral health is an indicator of overall health and can be used as a tool to plan other treatments. 

What Happens to Your Teeth and Gums When You Grow Old? 

Age comes with its share of oral dysfunction. An aging body is unable to regrow, repair, and regenerate, causing certain typical issues to the ‘aging mouth.’

 

• Gum Diseases

Gums weaken from within with age, due to the changes in the tissue composition. The major causes of gum disease in the elderly are the inability of the gums to repair and fight against stress—like improper oral hygiene over the years, smoking, ill-fitting dentures, low protein diet, and medical issues like diabetes. 

 

This makes periodic dental visits a must. Use these for teeth cleanings and gum therapies. A dental clinic for seniors also helps you learn how to use dental floss or a water flosser, alcohol-free mouthwash, etc. 

• Loose teeth

The obvious result of unhealthy gums is loose, shaky teeth. This condition is called periodontitis. 

 

Dental health care for seniors emphasizes a lot on periodontitis, which impairs the bone and tissue that hold your teeth in place. Plaque buildup leads to swelling, gum recession, and weaker attachment. Professional cleaning, better oral hygiene, medicated rinses, and sometimes surgery to fix gum health and stabilize teeth are all parts of treatment.

• Dry Mouth

Common in the elderly, dry mouth is multifactorial. 

 

Sometimes it could be just the poor functioning of the salivary glands. Apart from that, certain meds and radiation treatments (especially in cancer patients) also dry up saliva.

 

Drink enough water…that’s the key.

 

However, be careful not to overload the aging kidneys with too much water! Sucking on vitamin C pills or eating citrus foods in moderation also improves saliva flow.

• Tissue lesions

White, red, or darkened patches are common in aging mouths. Small growths like tumors may also be visible. Never self-diagnose or delay a consultation with the dentist for seniors. 

 

If the Dundas dentist does not find anything serious, he may ask you to wait or apply an ointment for the irritation. In case it needs further exam, he may recommend a biopsy to find out if a growth is benign or cancerous. Cancerous growths may necessitate radiation or chemotherapy. Follow-up sessions are needed to see how things are going and to look for recurrences.

• Missing teeth

Mobile, shaky teeth, chronic gum disease, or cavities may lead to loss of teeth. Often, grossly decayed teeth are extracted, leaving empty spaces. Thus rehabilitation with dentures, dental crowns, bridges, and dental implants is common in old age.

• Darker teeth

Your grandparents’ teeth will be noticeably darker than your own. Why? 

 

This is because the enamel, the top layer, wears off. Dentin, which is a yellower tissue underneath, starts to show through as the enamel layer on the outside, making them look yellowish-brown. 

 

Smoking, drinking tea or coffee, and other lifetime habits can also cause stains on the teeth, darkening them. Too dark teeth not only look unattractive but also increase the risk of cavities. 

 

• Fungal infections

Poor saliva, dry mouth, inability to brush efficiently, poor immunity due to certain medicines, and multiple dental prosthetics welcome fungal infections. Oral fungi like Candida grow easily.

 

Keeping up with recommended oral hygiene. You must also take the prescribed antifungal medication by a medical professional.

 

• Problematic dentures, dental crowns, and bridges

The dental clinic Dundas often receives complaints of ill-fitting dentures, cuts and bruises from crowns and bridges, cheek bites, tongue bites, and other prosthetic-related issues.

 

Has your denture been annoying lately? Quite common. How about you check the denture insurance for seniors? And maybe get a new pair for yourself or the elderly in the family?

 

• Cavities in the roots

As people age, their gums shrink, exposing the tooth root to the mouth. And then this is what happens—root cavities. Tooth roots are more likely to get cavities than crowns because they don’t have enamel to protect them! People usually start out being very sensitive to everything they eat or drink.  Show your dentist Dundas, Ontario, without delays.

 

Age With a Healthy Smile

As one of the best dentists in Dundas, Ontario, the Royal East Dental team takes special care of every patient section—namely the kids, adults, and the elderly. Make each treatment plan for you-tailored and add compassion and empathy for the seniors. The idea is to make your dental needs less painful, not time-consuming, and sustainable. Feel free to visit us.