Among the most common misconceptions is the belief that tooth decay is a mandatory part of ageing. To some extent, this is true but, by no means does it mean you can’t do anything about it. It’s important to acknowledge that teeth change with age meaning that the way we care for them needs to change as well.
Knowing that, there are things you can do to slow down the decay process and tackle the following common dental issues successfully regardless of your age.
Common Teeth Wear
Our teeth are bound to experience quite a lot of tear and wear over the course of our lives and despite the fact that you can’t prevent this entirely, you can still minimize its effects. For instance, you need to chew food every day as you need to eat to survive, but you can still avoid chewing harmful things such as chewing gums and other sugary foods. Moreover, as you get older, stay away from foods that are too hard as they put additional strain on your teeth, as well as foods that are too sour or sweet. They, too, can cause additional damage.
Gum Recession
Gum recession is another thing that comes along with older age. As a normal part of ageing, we experience bone and muscle loss and this can frequently lead to changes in the structure of our jaw and face, and even to teeth loss. Fortunately, there are many modern procedures today that can address these issues and replace lost teeth. It’s advisable you rely on help from reputable professionals at the dental laboratory who can offer various restoration solutions that will restore your teeth natural look and bring back their functionality and beauty.
Discolouration
Discolouration is another common part of ageing. As much as this is a normal phenomenon and no threat to your dental health, it’s certainly not appealing. Luckily, there are lots of things you can do to brighten your smile, from a variety of professional cosmetic procedures to adding more fruit to your diet, in particular, strawberries. However, you need to be very cautious when it comes to using chemical whitening products as they might be too harsh and can eventually damage your teeth.
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth in seniors is quite a common condition that can be linked to a variety of medical conditions and medications. Saliva has an important part in maintaining a healthy mouth as it carries minerals and immune cells that protect the teeth from infections and cavities, so with insufficient saliva, you will be more inclined to oral health issues.
The dry mouth condition is further worsened by certain habits which cause a short-term lack of saliva, such as eating a lot of simple carbohydrates. Frequent consumption of sugary candy will keep your teeth under constant acid attack. It’s important you drink plenty of water and visit your dentist regularly to see which products are recommended to manage dry mouth.
Side Effects Caused By Medicine
As we age, most of us commonly start using some type of maintenance medicine. These typically include heart disease medicine, high blood pressure medicine and various diabetes treatments or treatments for chronic ailments. All of this medicine can cause various side effects, including the ones mentioned earlier, dry mouth and discolouration. It’s understandable that you won’t quit your medical treatment that helps with your health condition, but what you can do is to make sure you stay properly hydrated while you’re using maintenance drugs and stay regular at your dentist’s appointments.
Increased Risk of Gum and Tooth Disease
Needless to say, there are many unhealthy daily habits that can worsen your oral health and increase the risk of gum and tooth disease. Using drugs, smoking and drinking alcohol have a devastating impact on your overall health, your teeth included. In addition, coffee and red wine can stain your teeth, and too much acidic food and sugar can also impede your oral health and speed up tooth decay.
In conclusion, it’s safe to say that you won’t necessarily suffer from some of the most common dental problems related to ageing if you learn the basics of oral health, how to deal with the most common issues and how to prevent them on time. Proper daily dental hygiene and regular visits to your doctor will help ensure you maintain your pearly whites for a long time!
