As we get older, our entire body ages, and the mouth is no exception. The oral tissues, the mucous membranes, the teeth... Everything begins to notice the passing of the years.
The positive part is that good oral hygiene and proper care throughout life help, and a lot, to reach old age in excellent health. Contrary to the popular belief that teeth will inevitably be lost when we reach this age, if we follow our dentist's oral health advice we can keep all our teeth for life.
On the other hand, poor dental health can be a risk factor for some cardiovascular diseases, or be aggravated by others such as diabetes. The connection of oral health with the rest of the body is so important that even the pregnancy and delivery of the baby can be altered when the mother has periodontal problems, that is, advanced gum disease.
What changes in my mouth when I get older?
Although we take good care of our mouth, age brings some changes:
- Mouth dryness, since we produce less saliva.
- Wear of the dental surface, the teeth become more brittle and smaller.
- Recession of the gums and loss of alveolar bone, which can lead to the loss of teeth in cases where this is not controlled and treated correctly.
- Dental sensitivity, due to receding gums.
- Color changes, the teeth become yellow and brown, especially associated with habits such as tobacco and the consumption of wine, coffee and tea.
- Difficulty eating well due to loss of teeth and not replacing them. This will also lead to digestive problems, since the stomach will have to work harder to break down the food, thus making it easier for associated problems such as heartburn and heavy digestion to appear.
- Ulcerative and reddish lesions on the mucous membranes and tongue, which, although it is true that most of the time they respond to friction from the teeth, can sometimes lead to life-threatening malignant lesions.
How does it affect me?
All of the above changes make us more sensitive to some oral problems, such as tooth decay or gum disease.
And as if adding years were not enough, there are other factors that are added to the changes of age, and that also have a cumulative effect. For example, if we have been smokers or followed a bad diet, when we reach old age we will notice much more the impact on our dental health, since the effect is proportional to the time we have done it.
The main external factors that add to age are:
- An inadequate diet.
- Insufficient or inadequate oral hygiene.
- Diseases such as diabetes, heart conditions or cancer.
- Environmental factors, such as stress or smoking.
- Certain medications.
What are my options?
In any case, the basic thing is to maintain very careful dental hygiene, even more so than before, to compensate for the changes of age: thorough brushing, interdental brushes and dental floss, in addition to regular check-ups with our dentist. In the case of keeping our own teeth and depending on how well we brush, we will need to go every six or nine months for a check-up. In case of having problems with gums, dental implants or dental prostheses, we should go to our check-ups every four or six months, since we know that it is more difficult to brush correctly, especially in those elderly people who have lost some manual dexterity.
What do we recommend when we have lost dexterity in our brushing ability?
Sometimes, when we reach an advanced age, we lose some skill in detail movements, such as brushing or the use of interdental brushes. That is why we recommend a series of tools that will compensate for this situation:
- The electric toothbrush will be more useful than the manual one if you cannot carry out all the movements correctly. In older people, it will undoubtedly be more effective in removing bacterial plaque.
- The dental irrigator, an electric device that expels pressurized water simulating a mini hose, will reach all those spaces where the brush does not reach. Highly recommended for patients with dental implants and dental prosthetics.
- The silk thread with bow. This small device consists of a bow-shaped handle with a silk thread mounted on it. Its use is comfortable and intuitive, and facilitates the use of floss and the cleaning of the spaces between teeth.
What do we recommend when removable appliances are inconvenient and difficult to maintain in the older person?
Undoubtedly the best solution will be dental implants, with which they will not only enjoy greater comfort in speaking and eating, but also greater self-esteem and improved social relationships. It will be an investment to enjoy a better quality of life in the future. In this way we will avoid the need to depend on third parties for its maintenance or removal, that is, we will be able to forget about the discomfort of the mouth forever, and take care of enjoying life!
At the Ahoa Clinic we recommend carrying out an individualized maintenance program for each patient, respecting their needs and informing them at all times of the evolution of their oral health. A check for cavities and a detailed examination of the gums at each visit ensures good prevention and maintenance of long-term health.