Common Dental Concerns for Older Adults

Good oral hygiene is an important part of overall health at any age, and getting older brings new challenges. Your oral health might pay the price if you're unaware of these changes.

Jason Ray, DDS, and the team at his Santa Monica practice are here to help you stay up-to-date and keep your smile shining brightly. Today, we explain some of the common dental concerns affecting older adults. 

Oral health and aging

It’s easy to assume you’ve covered your bases when you have a lifetime of good oral hygiene behind you, but it’s a fact that your risk for dental health issues increases with aging. Natural age-related physical factors that impact your mouth include:

• Cells renew more slowly
• Tissue thins and becomes less elastic
• Bones lose mass and weaken

Your immune system isn’t the powerhouse it once was, so you’re more susceptible to infections that can take hold quickly while taking longer to heal.

Other health conditions can directly affect oral health or require medications that impact teeth, gums, and bone. It’s possible for oral health conditions to become more common in older adults, even if you’ve never had problems in the past.

Dental problems that increase with age

Dry mouth is frequently an issue that may not seem like a big cause for concern until you understand the role saliva plays in protecting your oral health. A simple shortage of saliva can create or aggravate problems like: 

• Gum disease
• Tooth decay
• Mouth sores
• An oral yeast infection called thrush
• Changes to taste 
• Difficulties when chewing or swallowing

These issues increase your chances of tooth loss. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as many as 1 in 5 people 65 or older have no natural teeth remaining. 

Those with dentures aren’t immune to oral health issues either. The same bacteria that stick to natural teeth also adhere to denture plates, putting the rest of your mouth and body at risk. There’s a direct link between oral health problems and chronic conditions, ranging from heart disease and diabetes to arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Oral cancers are more common in people over 45, developing for many reasons, each adding up to potentially serious problems.  Monitoring and prevention are the best courses of action.

Protecting your oral health

Fortunately, you can protect your mouth at any age. It all starts with maintaining your good oral hygiene habits, such as:

• Brushing twice a day
• Using a soft-bristled brush with soft bristles 
• Choosing a fluoride toothpaste
• Bi-annual dental cleanings and check-ups, including oral cancer screening
• Discontinue smoking or the use of tobacco products
• Avoid foods high in sugar and sugar-sweetened beverages

Consider additional appointments when you notice changes in your mouth, such as red or swollen gums, chronic bad breath, pain, sores, discolored patches, or loose teeth. If you wear dentures, don’t ignore slipping or changes in fit.

Please keep our office updated on your regular medications and medical conditions so we can assess their impact on your oral health. Contact Jason Ray DDS online or by phone to book your next oral health check today.