Whether you are 9 years old or 99 years old, dental care is important. However, if you are 65 or older, it is especially important that you monitor your oral health. After all, poor oral health can have a negative effect on your overall health and well-being. Gum disease has potentially been linked to a whole host of problems, including stroke, high blood pressure, and even cardiac disease.
Here are some of the most common dental problems that older people face, and we give these six specific tips on keeping natural teeth healthy into your ‘senior’ years.
Here are some of the most common dental problems for older people?
Darkened Teeth
This can be caused by changes in dentin as you age, or it could be caused by smoking or drinking too many dark drinks. Depending on the cause, teeth whitening can help and be a painless solution to this problem.
Dental Caries
Teeth get very worn out over the years, and dental caries is a common problem for older people as a result. For most dental caries, (cavities) a dental filling is performed. This can be done in-office and same day for the majority of our patients.
Dry Mouth and/or Bad Breath (halitosis)
Dry mouth can be the cause of chronic bad breath, known as halitosis. Saliva naturally washes away the bad bacteria that causes bad breath. People who suffer from dry mouth should drink water frequently to keep their mouths moist.
Loss of One or More Teeth
Loss of teeth may be due to gum disease, dental trauma, and other related problems. As patients age, they have had more chances to develop tooth issues. If you have lost a tooth there are many options to replace it.
Red, Bleeding, or Swollen Gums
Swollen and bloody gums is often a result of gum disease. Gum disease is easily treated when identified early.
If you have any of these problems, you should contact Parkview Dental immediately at (480) 771-0287. We are happy to treat you quickly and get you smiling again.
