Dental Issues For Our More ‘Mature’ Patients

How age can be a contributory factor for a range of dental problems

When we are young, we tend not to worry so much about the future and life seems almost endless. As we become older, we start to notice, along with some benefits of course, a slow decline in some of our physical attributes. Our teeth are no exception to this and older people can be more prone to certain oral health issues.

This isn’t to say that all problems associated with ageing are inevitable, and knowledge of them and subsequent improved care, can, at the very least, slow down their onset. Even where the problems do finally occur, there are a range of treatments available at our Burton dental clinic that can help to restore or replace damaged teeth.

In today’s blog, we will take a look at some of the main oral health problems associated with ageing and offer some advice on how to prevent and treat them.

Wear and tear

One of the most obvious issues is that ageing teeth have endured more years of stress and possibly trauma as well. Worn enamel is common in older people and there are also likely to be more cracks or chips than in younger teeth. As we have to use our teeth on a daily basis, there is little that we can do to prevent this other than ensuring that we brush and floss our teeth well and also see the dentist and hygienist at SG Dental and Implant Centre regularly to keep them as strong and  healthy as possible. Where damage has occurred, there are a range of treatments such as fillings and crowns, that may be used to restore them.

Tooth loss

As above, the longer we live, the more time there is for a tooth to be lost. This can be minimised, of course, with good care, but old age is likely to see us losing a number of teeth. This can have a knock on impact on our life and may make us feel a little self conscious about the way we look. It can also affect what we eat as well and in more extreme cases may mean that our diet is less than adequate, especially given our age. Where tooth loss does occur, there are a range of prosthodontics available to replace them. Dentures are probably the best known of all of them, but dental implants are also an excellent option and many older people can have these to replace their missing teeth. Teeth implants provide a strong and stable tooth replacement option that can help us to live out our later years with confidence and still have a great smile.

Discolouration

One thing that is inevitable as we become older is that our teeth will lose the whiteness they had when we were younger. There are certainly external factors that can contribute to this  such as smoking or eating and drinking teeth staining food and drinks, but there is also the unavoidable factor of ageing. As we become older, the dentin layer of the tooth, beneath the enamel, becomes darker in colour and this will be visible through the translucent enamel of our teeth. No amount of brushing or tooth whitening toothpaste will improve this to any significant degree. There are two treatments that we have available at our Burton dentist that can change your smile from a discoloured one to a white one though. We will need to examine your teeth to determine the most appropriate treatment whether that be a tooth whitening treatment or porcelain veneers. With these treatments you can have whiter teeth that help make you look younger too!

Gum disease and receding gums

As we have discussed in previous blogs, gum disease is potentially devastating for your teeth and can even cause their loss if it isn’t treated in time. Both gingivitis and periodontitis are often more common in older people even if they look after their teeth well. Part of the reason for this is that older people produce less saliva than younger people and this plays a significant role in washing away food debris and bacteria. Without their removal, these can soon lead to gum disease becoming present. The same guidance applies for older people as for younger ones; good brushing, flossing and hygienist treatments, but one additional suggestion is to make sure that you drink more water as you get older, especially at night. This will help to prevent the dry mouth which contributes to gum disease. It may also help to prevent receding gums which are common in older people. Your hygienist may also suggest that you make an appointment with them more frequently than the usual six months too.

Getting older has its advantages, but also drawbacks too. Providing that we take care of ourselves, including our teeth and gums, there is no reason that we shouldn’t enjoy our later years. As a part of this, you should make sure that you have appointments booked to see your dentist and hygienist at least every six months. If you would like to make an appointment at our local Burton clinic, you can do so by calling the SG Dental and Implant Centre on 01283 845345.