Useful Health Tips

As an individual age, their oral health deteriorates. Sometimes it doesn’t matter how well they take care of their teeth, age plays a major role in causing problems in the mouth of senior citizens.

Of course, there are many preventative measures individuals can take before they become senior citizens to save their teeth and everything in their mouth. Before one needs dental implants, it is important to take care of the teeth you were born with.

Here are 5 Dental health issues often seen in senior citizens:

1. Dry Mouth

Unfortunately, dry mouth is an annoying side effect of many medications. A lot of the senior population is on medication for various ailments and one of the side effects of too much medication is dry mouth.

Dry mouth can also happen to those individuals who do not take medication. As a person ages, the production of saliva decreases and causes dry mouth.

It is important to keep your mouth moist because dry mouth can lead to many different dental problems.

You may consider reading this > 8 Common Tooth Care Myths

2. Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is a condition of a high sugar diet as well as not taking proper care of the teeth. Many senior citizens don’t take care of their teeth because they are too tired, it is too much work or their teeth are painful, and they don’t want to make their teeth and mouth hurt worse.

Tooth decay can lead to infection, which could enter the bloodstream and cause physical damage to other parts of the body. It is important to avoid tooth decay at all costs.

Regular dental visits can help. It is also important to fix tooth decay, usually with the removal of a decayed tooth, to avoid further damage to your health.

3. Receding Gums

Many individuals have receding gums because they neglect the daily care, such as brushing and flossing. When the gums pull away from the teeth, many nerves are exposed and that can be extremely painful.

Receding gums can increase the likelihood of losing teeth and more pain in the gums and overall mouth. Prevention is the key.

4. Gum Disease

Periodontal disease or gum disease is a painful condition caused by plaque and bacteria left on the teeth and gums. This is also due to a lack of brushing and care of the mouth.

One of the other causes of periodontal disease is smoking or chewing tobacco products. These products cause inflammation of the gums and that can be painful and eventually lead to the need for dental implants or false teeth.

5. Oral Cancer

As an individual age, the likelihood of developing cancer of the mouth increases. Just like the other issues listed here, prevention is the best way to avoid oral cancer.

Besides daily brushing, flossing and taking care of your teeth and gums, it is important to get bi-yearly checkups at a qualified dental practice. A dental checkup can help determine cancers early on, which can save an individual’s life.

To ensure older adults have a long and healthy life, make sure they take care of their oral health as well as they do their physical and mental health. Also, if you’re looking forward to visiting a dentist, you must consider these tips.