Given that people are living longer these days, certain issues will arise more than they did in the past when people died younger. One of these is dental care. As one ages it becomes increasingly important to make regular visits to the dentist for healthy teeth maintenance. This means every six months a cleaning and a check-up.
For those who have already begun losing teeth and/or use dentures, dental care is even more necessary and in the meantime, dentists are prepped to check for loose teeth, possible problematic bumps that could be pre-cancerous and any changes occurring in your mouth such as diminished taste or color changes.
According to an article in WebMD on ‘Dental Care for Seniors,’ as people age they become increasingly susceptible to oral health issues. These are: darkened teeth (often caused due to dentin changes which is the tissue underlying the tooth enamel as well as the lifetime consumption of stain-causing foods and beverages), dry mouth (reduced saliva flow), reduced sense of taste, root decay (the result of the root of the tooth being exposed to decay-causing acids), gum disease (caused by plaque and worsened by excess food remaining in teeth as well as tobacco, etc.), loss of teeth, uneven jawbone, denture-induced stomatitis (bad dental hygiene, fungus, bad fitting dentures, etc.) and thrush.
Age does not have to result in poor oral health although it should be noted that conditions such as arthritis in the hands/fingers that could lead to less brushing/flossing could result in it. In addition, various drugs seniors take for elderly conditions could have side effects that impact dental health.
