People are living longer and healthier lives, and so are our teeth when they are well taken care of. However, studies indicate that older people have the highest rates of periodontal disease and need to do more to maintain good oral health so their pearly whites last as long as they do.
Regardless of your age, it's important to keep your mouth clean, healthy and feeling good, and it's important to know the state of your periodontal health.
· At least half of people over age 55 have gum disease.
· Almost one in four people age 65 and older have lost all of their teeth.
· Receding gum tissue affects the majority of older people.
· Gum disease and tooth decay are the leading causes of tooth loss in older adults.
What you may not realize is that oral health is not just important for maintaining a nice-looking smile and being able to eat all the foods you love. Good oral health is essential to quality of life. If you live in the Boston area, there are cosmetic dentistry options that can increase the life of your teeth.
While your likelihood of developing periodontal disease increases with age, the good news is that research suggests that these higher rates may be related to risk factors other than age. Periodontal disease is not an inevitable aspect of aging. Risk factors that may make older people more susceptible include general health status, diminished immune status, medications, depression, worsening memory, diminished salivary flow, functional impairments and change in financial status.
Medications
Older adults are likely to take medications that can impact oral health and affect dental treatment. Hundreds of common medications, including antihistamines, diuretics, painkillers, high blood pressure medications, and antidepressants can cause side effects such as dry mouth, soft tissue changes, taste changes, and gingival overgrowth.
Dry mouth leaves the mouth without enough saliva to wash away food and neutralize plaque, leaving you more susceptible to tooth decay and periodontal disease. In addition, dry mouth can cause sore throat, problems with speaking, difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. Your dentist can recommend various methods to restore moisture, including sugarless gum, oral rinses or artificial saliva products.
Be sure to tell your dental professional about any medications that you are taking, including herbal remedies and over-the-counter medications.
Special Concerns for Older Women
Women who are menopausal or post-menopausal may experience changes in their mouths. Recent studies suggest that estrogen deficiency could place post-menopausal women at higher risk for severe periodontal disease and tooth loss.
In addition, hormonal changes in older women may result in discomfort in the mouth, including dry mouth, pain and burning sensations in the gum tissue and altered taste, especially salty, peppery or sour.
Bone loss is associated with both periodontal disease and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis could lead to tooth loss because the density of the bone that supports the teeth may be decreased. More research is being done to determine if and how a relationship between osteoporosis and periodontal disease exists.
Dental Implants
More and more older people are selecting dental implants over dentures as a replacement option for lost teeth. Whether you have lost one or all of your teeth, dental implants allow you to have teeth that look and feel just like your own. Older adults have similar success rate with implants compared with younger people. As long as you are in good health, you are never too old to receive a dental implant.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in place. While high-tech in nature, dental implants are actually more tooth saving than traditional bridgework since implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support.
Denture Care
Denture wearers need to avoid plaque buildup that can irritate the tissues under the dentures. Thoroughly clean dentures daily and remove dentures at night to avoid bacteria growth. If you wear dentures, you need to continue to see a dental professional regularly. Because mouths continually change, dentures need to be checked for proper fit to avoid irritation, increased bone loss and infections. A change in the fit of partial dentures could indicate periodontal disease.
Preventing Gum Disease
Even if you have managed to avoid periodontal disease until now, it is especially important to practice a meticulous oral care routine as you age. Receding gum tissue affects a large percentage of older people. This condition exposes the roots of teeth and makes them more vulnerable to decay and periodontal infection.
To keep your teeth for a lifetime, you must remove the plaque from your teeth and gums every day with proper brushing and flossing. Regular dental visits are also important. A professional cleaning at least twice a year is necessary to remove plaque from places your toothbrush and floss may have missed.
Regardless of your age, it's important to keep your mouth clean, healthy and feeling good, and it's important to know the state of your periodontal health.
· At least half of people over age 55 have gum disease.
· Almost one in four people age 65 and older have lost all of their teeth.
· Receding gum tissue affects the majority of older people.
· Gum disease and tooth decay are the leading causes of tooth loss in older adults.
What you may not realize is that oral health is not just important for maintaining a nice-looking smile and being able to eat all the foods you love. Good oral health is essential to quality of life. If you live in the Boston area, there are cosmetic dentistry options that can increase the life of your teeth.
While your likelihood of developing periodontal disease increases with age, the good news is that research suggests that these higher rates may be related to risk factors other than age. Periodontal disease is not an inevitable aspect of aging. Risk factors that may make older people more susceptible include general health status, diminished immune status, medications, depression, worsening memory, diminished salivary flow, functional impairments and change in financial status.
Medications
Older adults are likely to take medications that can impact oral health and affect dental treatment. Hundreds of common medications, including antihistamines, diuretics, painkillers, high blood pressure medications, and antidepressants can cause side effects such as dry mouth, soft tissue changes, taste changes, and gingival overgrowth.
Dry mouth leaves the mouth without enough saliva to wash away food and neutralize plaque, leaving you more susceptible to tooth decay and periodontal disease. In addition, dry mouth can cause sore throat, problems with speaking, difficulty swallowing and hoarseness. Your dentist can recommend various methods to restore moisture, including sugarless gum, oral rinses or artificial saliva products.
Be sure to tell your dental professional about any medications that you are taking, including herbal remedies and over-the-counter medications.
Special Concerns for Older Women
Women who are menopausal or post-menopausal may experience changes in their mouths. Recent studies suggest that estrogen deficiency could place post-menopausal women at higher risk for severe periodontal disease and tooth loss.
In addition, hormonal changes in older women may result in discomfort in the mouth, including dry mouth, pain and burning sensations in the gum tissue and altered taste, especially salty, peppery or sour.
Bone loss is associated with both periodontal disease and osteoporosis. Osteoporosis could lead to tooth loss because the density of the bone that supports the teeth may be decreased. More research is being done to determine if and how a relationship between osteoporosis and periodontal disease exists.
Dental Implants
More and more older people are selecting dental implants over dentures as a replacement option for lost teeth. Whether you have lost one or all of your teeth, dental implants allow you to have teeth that look and feel just like your own. Older adults have similar success rate with implants compared with younger people. As long as you are in good health, you are never too old to receive a dental implant.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in place. While high-tech in nature, dental implants are actually more tooth saving than traditional bridgework since implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support.
Denture Care
Denture wearers need to avoid plaque buildup that can irritate the tissues under the dentures. Thoroughly clean dentures daily and remove dentures at night to avoid bacteria growth. If you wear dentures, you need to continue to see a dental professional regularly. Because mouths continually change, dentures need to be checked for proper fit to avoid irritation, increased bone loss and infections. A change in the fit of partial dentures could indicate periodontal disease.
Preventing Gum Disease
Even if you have managed to avoid periodontal disease until now, it is especially important to practice a meticulous oral care routine as you age. Receding gum tissue affects a large percentage of older people. This condition exposes the roots of teeth and makes them more vulnerable to decay and periodontal infection.
To keep your teeth for a lifetime, you must remove the plaque from your teeth and gums every day with proper brushing and flossing. Regular dental visits are also important. A professional cleaning at least twice a year is necessary to remove plaque from places your toothbrush and floss may have missed.
If you would like to learn more about general and cosmetic dentistry in Massachusetts, especially in the Boston, Braintree, and South Shore areas, please visit the website of Pinnacle Dental Aesthetics today.
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