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Senior Dental Health Awareness
The Wisdom Tooth by Wynn H. Okuda, D.M.D.

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The American Dental Association has designated May as Senior Dental Awareness Month. Therefore, I’d like to give a gentle reminder to seniors, and people with senior family members and friends, about the importance of optimal dental care. Dental professionals have a goal of patients keeping their teeth for a lifetime. But for you to achieve this, we need your help.

Although with age comes wisdom, there still is a misconception that losing teeth is a natural part of the aging process. It’s not. It’s due to tooth decay or gum disease. With the advancements of medical technology, people are living longer, therefore needing their teeth longer.

Keeping as many of your natural teeth as possible is not only a dental issue, but also an overall health issue. Your mouth is the window to good nutritional health. What foods we intake depends on our ability to bite and chew them. If we can’t bite foods with crunchier or firmer textures, like vegetables or meats, we potentially limit the full nutritional value of what we ingest. This in turn may lead to negative health consequences.

Optimum oral health care, maintenance, and education is the key for seniors to maintain their teeth and their natural smiles.

Tooth Decay. Yes, tooth decay can still be a problem in the senior patient. Many seniors did not have the benefit of fluoridated water or fluoride supplements while they were growing up. Consequently, these people have many dental restorations. Having a "filling" makes you that much more susceptible, at any time, to having recurrent decay form around these restorations.

Another type of tooth decay common in older people is "root decay". Generally, this type of decay will occur in adults whose gums have receded so much as to expose the root surfaces of teeth. Because the root surface is softer than enamel, root decay can form easily.

Brushing and flossing regularly will help to address tooth decay. In addition, ask your dentist if a fluoride rinse or gel would be of additional benefit to you.

Periodontal Disease. If you haven't known already, periodontal or gum disease is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. Since the prevalence and severity increases with age, the senior patient is at a higher risk than normal of getting gum disease. Periodontal disease starts with plaque, a sticky, colorless layer of bacteria, that forms on your teeth between brushing. As we age, plaque can build-up at an even faster rate and greater amount. If not removed thoroughly, it hardens into tartar or calculus, which irritates the gums. This may cause gums to pull away from the tooth. If untreated, eventually bone level around the affected teeth may recede or lower, resulting in loose teeth.

Initial warning signs to watch for include gums that are red, swollen, bad breath or bleeding. Again, brushing and flossing to remove plaque is your part in preventing gum disease. The second part is periodic professional cleanings to remove the hard calculus from your teeth.

Dry Mouth. Frequently considered an age-related condition, dry mouth or xerostomia may also result from taking certain medications such as antihistamines, pain killers and decongestants. This decrease in flow of saliva can cause an increase in cavities. Normally, saliva plays a major role in rinsing away food particles and neutralizing acids. This puts you at a higher risk of having recurrent tooth decay. Talk to your dentist about your situation, as there are ways to increase saliva flow, including sugar-free candy and oral rinses.

Professional Dental Visits. Having periodic professional cleanings and oral examinations at your dentist’s office will ensure that problems are addressed early on, while the most conservative solution is still possible. These appointments will also ensure that proper home care regimen is prescribed for your current situation. Even if you have a full denture or only a few teeth, be sure to talk to your dentist about how often to schedule a check-up.

Knowing that problems can arise in your later years makes it important for you to emphasize prevention now. Many of these problems mentioned above can be corrected if you see your dentist within a reasonable period of time. Also, consider that with certain dental concerns there may exist a window of treatment opportunity now that may not be available later.

For example, if you are considering having dental implants (titanium screws placed in the jaw bone, to which restorations are attached) to replace a missing tooth or teeth, the time to talk with your dentist is now. Although you may be thinking you are able to tolerate your situation for now and maybe in five or ten years you’ll consider implants, your body may not agree with your plans. Your overall health and specifics of your oral health, such as sufficient bone level, factor into the success rate or even the consideration to place dental implants. These may change between now and later. Therefore it’s always wise to talk with your dentist not only about your immediate needs, but also your long term needs.

Practicing good dental home care rituals and having regular dental check-ups is certainly a step in the right direction for maintaining your dental health in your senior years. Keep in mind that it's never too late to start good oral health habits. Even if you have spent years with less than ideal habits, tomorrow is a new day. It may seem overwhelming or bothersome, but little by little if your incorporate good dental health habits into your everyday routine, it will be second nature before you know it. Preserving your natural teeth and healthy gums is essential to your overall health, well-being and smile, especially in your senior years.