When they say “age is all in your head,” they’re probably right. But
then, your teeth ARE in your head -- so you likely can’t escape having
to pay a little more attention to them after the age of 50. Although
some oral health concerns are seen as common as we age, if you adopt a
proactive mindset and educate yourself, these concerns do not have to be
common for you. Anticipating and recognizing changes in your mouth can
help you be on top of your health in this area -- so let’s take a look
at the main ones you have to watch out for.
- Dry Mouth: The
most common oral health concern you’re likely to experience as you age
is dry mouth. In the medical world, dry mouth goes by the name
xerostomia, and can be brought on by a number of contributing factors,
including the over-consumption of drying beverages like coffee and
alcohol, as well as the frequent consumption of salty foods. Another big
offender is the medication we take over a lifetime to treat various
illness. And the list isn’t a short one – there are at least 400 medications that can contribute to xerostomia, including medications for high blood pressure and depression. Last month there was a new patient who came in with a history of getting many cavities and was frustrated because he was meticulous about his home care because of his history. We were able to identify his lack of saliva, which is our number one defense against cavities, and gave him some remedies such as Biotene and their line of products to help him with his dry mouth and cavities.
- Ill-fitting Dentures: First off, it’s important to note that the need for dentures is not a must as we age. Today, healthier living and better access to dental care has reduced the percentage of
seniors wearing dentures to 27% from nearly 50% just a few decades ago.
That said, should dentures be a part of your life, or that of a loved
one, wearing properly-fitting dentures is critical. Sometimes, all that’s needed is a denture reline. Give us a call at 305-598-6070 to see if we can help. Dentures
that cause pain or shift in the mouth tend to alter a person’s eating
habits, which can lead to nutrition deficits if healthy, but
hard-to-chew, foods are avoided. Ill-fitting dentures can also cause thrush.
- Physical Obstacles to Good Oral Care: As
we age, we sometimes find ourselves having to contend with physical
ailments that limit our desire to maintain good oral care. Arthritis,
vision loss, or injuries are a few of the most common. To combat these
concerns, using a floss pick to get between teeth can be helpful, and
the regular use of oral rinses can assist in dislodging
difficult-to-remove food debris, while adding to the overall health of
one’s mouth and gum tissue. Here’s how to choose the best mouth rinse for your needs!
- Naturally Receding Gums: The
old expression “long in the tooth” isn’t just a quaint idiom about how
one accumulates wisdom with age – it also refers to how our teeth appear
to “lengthen” as we age. In other words, it’s a fancy way of saying our
gums are receding. While some degree of gum recession is indeed natural as we get up in years,
this predisposes us to cavities along the root structure of the tooth
where enamel doesn’t exist. So, as one ages, flossing, brushing and
rinses are more important than ever.
- Gum Disease: Natural gum recession is one thing, and a part of “growing up,” if you will. Gum disease, however, is preventable. So, if it’s been longer than six months since you’ve seen us, please do give us a call at 305-598-6070. Each
of the above items in this list can contribute to gum disease, and good
oral care can prevent it. Failing to do so can lead to a need for
dentures at its most extreme, and pain and swollen gums at its least.
We’d prefer you experience neither concern!
- Tooth Loss: If a tooth is lost due to trauma or decay, and not replaced with an implant or
other prosthetic, it can have serious complications for the health of
the jawbone. Teeth can shift out of place and fall out, and bone tissue
can be resorbed back into the body. Not a good thing.
- Loss of Insurance Coverage: Retirees
without dental coverage can sometimes cover the expense of dental care
on their own; sometimes they cannot. But a lack of funds to take care of
one’s teeth can be devastating to the health of our mouths, and our
overall health. So we need to plan for two things: a care routine that
allows us to take care of our teeth as much as humanly possible and some
sort of financial backup plan for when problems do arise. We have third party payment plans such as Care Credit and Lending Club. We also have our own in house discount plan. Give us a call to inquire about it.
