Dental Care in your Senior Years
So for better or worse you’re reaching your senior years. While taking care of your teeth and gums is important throughout your life, getting ‘longer in the tooth’ can put you at more at risk for dental care issues.
- Senior Dental Care: Oral health is crucial in senior years to prevent common dental issues.
- Common Issues: Seniors face cavities, darkened teeth, sensitivity, dry mouth, and gum disease.
- Improvement Tips: Brush and floss daily, use fluoride toothpaste, and visit the dentist regularly.
- Healthy Habits: Quit smoking, drink tap water, and maintain a balanced diet for better oral health.
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Dental problems can become more common in our senior years – and since oral health directly impacts the health of the rest of our body, we should not overlook or pay down the importance of good oral health in older age. Taking care of teeth and gums in advancing years is just as important as digestive or heart health.
Conditions like arthritis might make it difficult to practice good dental hygiene and memory loss may cause some seniors to forget to brush and floss their teeth altogether.
Also, changes in the mouth can lead to other health problems for people in their senior years. However, with the proper care and regular visits to the dentist, it’s possible for teeth and gums to stay in great condition regardless of your age.
Common Dental Care Issues Seniors Face
Some of the common issues those in senior years face when it comes to oral hygiene include:
- Cavities and root decay. Older adults often face more cavities and decay on the root surfaces of the teeth. This occurs as the gum tissue receded and the root of the tooth is exposed. Our teeth roots are not covered with protective enamel, therefore making them more vulnerable to decay.
- Darkened teeth. This is caused often by changes in the dentin, the bony tissue under the enamel, or from years of consumption of beverages and foods that stain teeth. As we age the enamel can often become thinner, which means the dentin is more visible, causing the teeth to appear yellowish or even brown.
- Increased sensitivity. As your gums recede over time, areas of the teeth not protected by enamel become exposed and can be sensitive to hot, cold sweet or sour foods. Sometimes, sensitivity is a sign of a more serious condition like a cracked tooth or a cavity. If your teeth are sensitive, check in with your dentist to rule out a larger issue.
- Dry mouth. Many medications and therapies can cause dry mouth, as they reduce the production of saliva. Smoking can also cause dry mouth.
- Dentures. While dentures are helpful for many seniors, they do require special dental care that can sometimes be difficult to maintain on a daily basis.
- Gum disease. Gum disease tends to affect people over the age of 40 more so than younger individuals. It’s caused by poor oral hygiene or a bad diet, as well as diseases like diabetes or heart disease. Also, those who smoke or drink alcohol regularly are more at risk for gum disease.
How to Improve Dental Care in Your Senior years
We all know brushing twice daily and flossing daily is important for oral health. But there’s more to maintaining dental care now that we are older and wiser. Here are some tips that may prove helpful:
- Brush twice a day with a toothbrush with soft bristles and fluoride-containing toothpaste. Brush for 2 minutes.
- Consider using an electric toothbrush for your dental care. It’s a good option for people with dexterity issues, and most have a timer that will let you know when your brushing time is up.
- Floss daily. Brushing only cleans around half your tooth, flossing will reach between the teeth and remove bacteria that is caught there.
- If you wear full or partial dentures, remember to clean them daily. Remove your dentures at night.
- Drink tap water. Since most contain fluoride, it helps prevent tooth decay, no matter how old you are.
- Consider quitting smoking. Besides putting you at greater risk for lung and other cancers, smoking increases problems with gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss.
- Keep up your regular Active Maintenance visits to your dentist so they can monitor your oral health regularly.
- Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that includes dairy and high-fibre foods.
- Keep your regular Active Maintenance dental care visits to your dentist so that you’re one step ahead of any possible problems before they arise.
With quality dental care, you can stay on top of your oral health in your senior years and enjoy a beautiful smile for longer.
Want to learn more or book a consultation? Visit our Contact Us page and complete our enquiry form or call us on 02 9389 3656, we’ll be happy to help answer your questions.
Research Reference: Oral and dental care for seniors in aged care homes…
Patient Story – The Transformed Man
An interesting story shared by our practise founder and prosthetic, Rob Dulieu was about a tall man, about 6 foot 6 Initially. This patient would never smile and would cover his mouth even when talking to the staff at the practice.
The Dental Fresh team made him a new set of teeth, both upper and lower dentures. When he first saw his new teeth, the patient, despite his tough appearance, burst into tears. The transformation went beyond just his teeth. When he returned for his two-week review, he had gotten a haircut and a shave. He shared stories about positive changes in his life, including new relationships.
Rob emphasised how the difference was visible not just in the patient's teeth, but in his eyes. The patient continues to visit every 6 weeks, and Rob describes him as "a great guy," highlighting the ongoing relationship they've built.
