2. As people age, they are put at risk for various medical conditions which not only affect their well-being but may also be problematic for their dental health. Thus, the act of brushing and flossing may get difficult for those elderly people who develop health problems such as arthritis.
3. There are several dental health problems that may arise in older age. These include the following:
◦Dry Mouth – with older age come a handful of medicines and treatments which can cause reduced saliva flow resulting to dry mouth. Diseases like Cancer and Sjögren's syndrome include treatments that use radiation that can dry up the mouth. Furthermore, some medicine’s side effects may include dry mouth.
4. ◦Reduced Sense of Taste – aside from dentures, certain diseases, and medications, aging itself can impair and diminish a person’s sense of taste.
◦Tooth Discoloration – again, certain medications play a part to teeth darkening. But more importantly, advancing age causes worn out tooth enamel revealing the dentin’s natural yellow color. A lifetime of consuming foods and drinks that stain the teeth can add up to the darkened teeth, as well.
◦Tooth Loss – deterioration of the jawbone, and gum disease are the leading culprits of loss of teeth.
5. ◦Gum Disease – this can stem from plaque buildup and worsen by a number of factors including ill- fitting dentures and bridges, tobacco use, poor diet, trapped food debris between teeth, as well as disease like cancer, anemia, and diabetes.
◦Root Decay – among other decay of the tooth, root decay is less common. It happens when the gum tissue recedes because of decay-causing acids in the mouth exposing the tooth root.
6. Oral Thrush - Growing old is marked by diseases or illnesses, not to mention several medications. And certain diseases that affect the immune system can trigger a fungal overgrowth in the mouth, resulting to oral thrush—an inflammation caused by yeast.
7. ◦Stomatitis – it is an infection of the tissue in the area covered by the dentures. While wearing poorly fit dentures can be its cause, people without dentures can get it, too, if they have bad oral hygiene.
8. Regardless of age, brushing and flossing daily are essential to preventing oral issues later on. However, since older people’s teeth and gums are more prone to damage, it is especially important to keep and maintain good oral hygiene at this age.
9. ◦Flossing should be done once each day.
◦When brushing twice daily, use fluoride toothpaste.
◦Consider using antibacterial mouthwash to diminish plaque-causing bacteria.
◦Visit Dental Studio 101 for professional cleaning by a hygienist and an oral check-up with a dentist in Scottsdale.
10. Typically, a dentist in Scottsdale may ask about your dental history and conduct a thorough oral examination of your mouth for any signs of oral health problems—from infections, injuries and skin discoloration to signs of swelling or lumps, popping and clicking in the jaw, as well as decay, chips or cracks in the teeth.
