Good dental health habits showcase a beautiful mouth of teeth and a resulting “movie-star” smile. Because dental needs change as we age, seniors have to be especially mindful to take care of their oral health. Below are facts pertaining to seniors and the health of their mouth/teeth:
(1). Seniors have a 300 percent higher rate of cavities than children.
(2). Gum (periodontal) disease increases with age. 23 percent of Americans between the ages of 65 to 74 have severe gum problems, with three out of four adults affected at some time during their life.
(3). Oral cancers are most common in the elderly, resulting in some 8000 deaths yearly.
(4). About 5 percent of seniors take an average of at least eight medications a day, with many adverse effects on dental health.
(5). About three-quarters of senior residents in nursing homes are not being treated for serious dental problems.
(6). Seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia need assistance with routine hygiene, including brushing their teeth properly.
(7). Untreated dental conditions may lead to malnutrition (difficulty in chewing food due to missing teeth and poorly-fitted dentures) and social isolation (due to appearance of teeth or lack of teeth in the mouth), as well as health issues (abscess of gums).
(8). About 30 percent of seniors lose all of their natural teeth according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Most people over the age of 50 suffer from some form of dental care disease,” according to Dr. Bradley, a Northwest suburban dentist.
Common problems found among older adults are the following:
Tooth color: Plaque is an invisible layer of bacteria that forms on our teeth and can trap stains at any age. As we get older, plaque builds up more quickly and is harder to remove. At the same time, the tissue that lies underneath the tooth enamel, called dentin, is changing. Those changes can make teeth appear darker.
Dry mouth: This condition is caused by reduced saliva flow, which can result from cancer treatments (radiation to the head and neck area), as well as certain diseases, painkillers, decongestants, and other medications. Dry mouth, if left unattended, can damage teeth, since saliva’s natural rinsing keeps bacteria washed away from teeth and gums.
Diminished sense of taste: While advancing age impairs the sense of taste, diseases, medications, and dentures can also contribute to this sensory loss.
Fillings: Older fillings can weaken and/or crack, or they may decay around the edges of the filling. As a result, bacteria can seep into teeth causing more decay.
Cavities and root decay: Foods with carbohydrates join with bacteria in the mouth. This makes acids that form cavities. If gums begin to recede, the portion of the tooth that used to be below the gum line is now exposed. Roots are softer than tooth surfaces and are susceptible to decay. They are also likely to be sensitive to hot and cold beverages and food.
Gum disease: This is the leading cause of tooth loss, unevenness of teeth, and/or weakening of the jawbone. Gums may bleed after eating or after brushing teeth. Dentures not fitting correctly are also as a result of swelling of the gums. Remember, gum disease is often painless until it becomes more advanced. This may be caused by poor brushing habits after eating and the use of tobacco products, poorly fit bridges and dentures, poor diets, and certain diseases, such as anemia, cancer, and diabetes.
How can Sun Citians keep their teeth for a lifetime?
1. Get cavities filled as soon as possible.
2. Brush teeth two to three times daily, especially when possible, after meals.
3. Floss at least once a day.
4. Use a mouth-rinse and toothpaste that contains fluoride with a dentist-recommended toothbrush.
5. See the dentist for a cleaning and exam to remove the plaque and tartar under the gum line. Dentures or bridges may also be checked for proper fitting at this time. The number of times your dentist will want to see you will depend on the condition of your teeth. This may vary from two to four times yearly.
6. Good nutrition plays a large role in your dental health.
(a). A balanced diet will help boost your immune system, leaving you less vulnerable to oral diseases.
(b). Eating starchy foods (crackers, bread, cookies, and candy) can cause the bacteria in your mouth to feed on the foods and, therefore, produce acids. These acids can attack your teeth for up to 20 minutes or more.
(c). Sticky foods (potato chips, hard candy, granola bars) are slow to dissolve and give the acids more time to work on destroying your tooth enamel.
(d). How often you eat leaves your teeth more vulnerable to tooth problems. Try to avoid snacks. ***Sticky and starchy foods create less acid when eaten as part of a meal. Saliva production increases at mealtime, rinsing away food particles and neutralizing harmful acids.
(e). Foods such as nuts, cheese, onions, and some teas have been shown to slow the growth of decay-causing bacteria in the mouth.
Oral B toothbrushes with soft bristles are recommended by many dental practices, along with electric toothbrushes and Waterpiks, to aid in a easier, more thorough cleaning of the teeth and gum areas. Fluoride toothpastes and mouth rinses, if used in conjunction with brushing and flossing, can reduce tooth decay as much as 40 percent. Tartar-control and teeth-whitening toothpastes are often not recommended because they have been shown in studies to be abrasive and prematurely thin enamel on teeth, thus, weakening them. Please ask your dental staff for the up-to-date proper way of brushing and flossing your teeth if you are not sure.
While dental insurance and senior dental health programs can help lessen the cost of “fixing” your teeth, and while modern dentistry has improved in its detection and correction of mouth problems, “an ounce of prevention is still worth a pound of cure.” Take care of your mouth as you would your body! Begin today to have a healthy smile for that rainy or sunny day in Huntley!
