Over 50? Watch for These Dental Problems

If you are over 50 years old, it can become important to start paying closer attention to your dental health. With proper care for your dental and oral health, you can prevent the kind of tooth loss experienced by so many Americans, especially those in this age group. More than 175 million Americans are missing at least one tooth and 35 million have no teeth at all.

Preserve your teeth by following your dentist’s recommendations closely now and in the future. There are certain common problems that can be experienced in one’s older years. However, you can minimize or avoid these problems through proper dental care.

Gum disease that’s not properly treated can eventually result in serious bone loss in the jaw and tooth loss. But most cases of gum disease are reversible with the right care. The keys to prevention are simple:

•Brush your teeth with a soft-bristle brush twice a day
• Floss daily
• Follow a regular program of dental checkups and cleaning
• Also follow your dentist’s recommendations for treatment of early gum problems or other care that is needed.

If you still smoke, it’s a very good time to stop. Smoking affects your overall health, increases your risk of gum disease and dries out your mouth, which can lead to other problems. We’ll go into this subject more in a moment.

While most people get fewer cavities as they mature, in your fifties, you could find a few cavities in new locations. There may be cavities around the roots of your teeth as these roots become softer and more exposed. Also, the restorations ( fillings or bridges ) you’ve had for a while are aging and cavities could develop around these repairs. Regular dental visits are important to get these cavities fixed before they can create serious problems.

A slight misalignment in your bite that never bothered you before could become a bigger problem now. Teeth begin to shift at this age, which means your bite could be more misaligned, placing unusual stresses on your teeth. You could be told you are wearing down some teeth and now need to get this wear repaired.

Age, smoking and certain prescription drugs increase the incidence of dry mouth which often creates problems for both teeth and gums. The proper balance of healthy bacteria in your mouth depends on that constant wash of saliva. When your mouth is overly dry, the wrong bacteria thrive which accelerates the development of cavities or gum disease. Your dentist may prescribe a moisturizing mouthwash for you or you could sip water throughout the day to keep the right balance in your mouth.

Especially if you smoke or use tobacco products, it’s important to be checked for mouth cancer on a regular basis. Your dentist should be probing around and under your tongue at each exam to detect any unusual coloration or bumps. This is another excellent reason not to skip your regular dental exams.

Perhaps you’ve had straight teeth your whole life. You could find that your teeth are now shifting to slightly new positions. The less perfect your alignment, the more places there are for bacteria to grow and the more difficult it will be to keep your teeth clean. Also, your teeth are more likely to suffer chipping, cracking and wear because they are receiving uneven stresses they weren’t designed for. Dr. Maryam Seifi is a Preferred Provider for Invisalign , a virtually invisible tooth aligning system. She can help you return your teeth to their correct positions and stabilize them there.

Now more than ever, regular dental care is vital to preserve the health of your mature teeth. Dr. Maryam Seifi and her staff at StarBrite Dental want to help you keep your mouth, teeth and gums in perfect condition throughout your mature years. In the Rockville, Maryland and metropolitan Washington, D.C. areas, contact us to bring your dental care up to date and keep your oral health in the best condition possible. Call us at (301) 770-1070 today to schedule your examination.

SOURCES
Internet:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/28/common-dental-problems-_n_5844434.html
http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/a/aging-and-dental-health
http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/adults-over-60/concerns
https://www.gotoapro.org/facts-figures/
http://www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/the-aging-mouth-and-how-to-keep-it-younger-harvard-health-publications http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/smoking-oral-health#1