Author: nearmedental

Senior people are always vulnerable to diseases. Their immune system weakens with age, and they become unable to fight diseases. Some of these diseases also attack their oral health and make them vulnerable. Some qualified dentists talk about common dental issues experienced by seniors today, and we will discuss that in this article.

After having good knowledge of these diseases, you can be preventive against them so that you can have healthy oral health in old age also.

Some Qualified Dentist Talks about Common Dental Issues Experienced by Seniors Today

Here we will talk about some common dental issues experienced by seniors today:

Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is common with elderly people because of more cavity occurrences. When a person becomes old, the roots of the teeth go softer. A soft root is always vulnerable to catching cavities. Cavities occur on the surface of the teeth as well as on the roots. Sometimes, you can also notice cavities around the old fillings. According to a qualified dentist, this is a common dental issue experienced by seniors today.

This is a curable disease only if you follow the instructions of a dentist. If you want to avoid these diseases in your old age, you must increase your fluoride intake. Fluoride can prevent your teeth from cavities. In the United States, almost 80% of people drink fluoridated water. In case you don’t have the supply for such water, use fluoride rinse while brushing. 

However, before planning to do something regarding this, consult your dentist first.

Dry Mouth

In old age, people usually experience a dry mouth. When they have a dry mouth, they will experience a sticky feeling and will have trouble swallowing food. A dry mouth will bring a metallic taste to your mouth. It will also cause bad breath. A dry mouth usually occurs when there is a lack of saliva in your mouth. Saliva is something that can prevent dry mouth as well as tooth decay. In case you are not able to produce enough saliva, you might face multiple risks. Lack of saliva means lack of calcium and phosphate, which can be a risk in the future.

Sometimes dry mouth is also caused due to the medications that people take in their old age. Smoking can be a major reason behind dry mouth. To prevent all this, you can stimulate saliva production in your mouth. You can do this by drinking a lot of water or chewing sugar-free gums regularly. You can also consult a dentist for some medications to stimulate saliva production. 

According to a qualified dentist, dry mouth is a common dental issue experienced by seniors today.

Gum Disease

If you are in your old age and notice that your gums are red, bleeding, and swollen, you might get diagnosed with gingivitis. Gingivitis is an early stage of gum disease, which can be dangerous in the future. In case you ignore it, it might progress to a serious condition known as periodontitis. In periodontitis, the gum comes out from the tooth and leaves gaps for infections to accumulate. This can cause loss of bone and teeth in the near future. Gum disease is also one of the common dental issues experienced by seniors today.

The best treatment plan for this disease is regular dentist visits. Consult a dentist in regular intervals and do gum check-ups on every visit. So that gum disease can get diagnosed in the early stages. You should also clean your teeth professionally in the dental clinic to avoid gum disease. A dentist can cure the gum disease instantly if it is diagnosed in the early stages.

Tooth Crowding

Once you grow old, your teeth start shifting. This shifting is the main reason behind tooth crowding. If tooth crowding occurs, it becomes difficult for you to clean your teeth properly. On top of that, food gets stuck in gaps created by tooth crowding.

Misalignment in teeth can lead to tooth erosion and damage to the supporting tissue. You can treat tooth crowding by consulting a dentist. The dentist might fit a retainer or spacer on your teeth. This is another common dental issue experienced by seniors today.

Bottom Line

Now you have a proper idea about what a qualified dentist talks about common dental issues experienced by seniors today. If you are in your old age, then now you know what all diseases can affect you. So start taking measures to prevent it from happening. Always try to visit a dentist regularly without fail.