Common Dental Problems For Older Adults

As we get older, our teeth gain a lot of wear and tear. There are many problems that happen to our teeth as we continue to age.  Sure we can properly brush our teeth twice a day and floss once a day, but no matter how hard we try to stay young, age will always prevail.

Some common dental problems older adults often experience include:

• Mouth Pain

• Gum disease

• Dry Mouth

• Abrasions and oral sores

If you are above the age of 60 and experience mouth pain, it is important to go to a dentist immediately. Even if you are younger, getting to the root of the problem is the best thing you can do to keep your teeth healthy as you continue to get older.

Mouth pain can be caused by many factors.  Some issues can simply be related to cavities that need to be filled and mended, while there are more serious issues such as oral cancer.  

Address Oral Health Problems Early On

It does not matter how old you are, you need to address dental problems as soon as possible. We stress this factor since early treatment can save a rotting tooth.  If you act too late in solving an issue or a decaying tooth, then you may end up with gum disease.

Luckily, gum disease is treatable.  If you do not receive proper treatment, then the disease can destroy the gums and jawbone, leading to tooth loss. This means that you will never get your original tooth back again. With this type of dental problem, antibiotics and the removal of unhealthy tissue can fix the dental problem.

Having a dry mouth is a common dental problem that may happen if your mouth is not producing as much saliva as normal. Saliva is natural and keeps bacteria neutralized and lubricated inside of the mouth.

There are many reasons why dry mouth may occur:

• Medication (side effects)

• Infections or diseases can cause dry mouth

• Medical treatments

Treating Symptoms of Other Conditions that Affect the Mouth

As people age, more medications will be necessary to manage common health issues, including depression, anxiety or hypertension.  If older adults obtain diabetes, anemia or arthritis, the medicine that controls these lifelong diseases can also cause the dry mouth.  

If an adult is receiving treatment for a more serious condition, such as cancer, the treatments alone may cause dry mouth. Fortunately, tone can solve this issue with mouthwashes or dental treatments that target dry mouth.  

As we age, cancer rates increase, especially if you have bad habits such as drinking and smoking.  These bad habits will increase your rate of obtaining dental problems, abrasions and oral sores. It is crucial to follow-up with your dentist every six months, otherwise, costs and dental problems will arise.

As you can see, there are many dental problems that may occur as we age, the best way to manage these issues is to see a professional with the right tools and skills.  Call us now for a consultation.

For more tips on addressing dental problems or to schedule an appointment with Smiles By Julia, request an appointment in our Fort Lauderdale dental office here: https://www.smilesbyjulia.com. Or call us at (954) 271-8034.