Part of taking care of our health involves making sure that our teeth and gums are healthy. Regular dental checkups may have been part of your annual routine, but as you age, did you know that there will be changes to your dental routine as well? Working with your Fallbrook dental provider, you can continue to have healthy teeth into your senior years. Here is what is involved in senior dental care and how it differs from traditional dental care.
The Connection Between Your Body and Your Mouth
While dental care is stressed for young children and adults, the truth is that good dental health is a critical part of maintaining our physical health overall. The body and mouth are intricately connected, so to maintain your good health and quality of life, it is important to maintain your dental health throughout your lifetime.
Recognize that regular cleanings and general dental care can do much to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Often, there is the assumption that getting older means losing teeth and eventually having to get a dental appliance or dentures. The truth is that with quality senior dental care, you can maintain your teeth.
However, getting older also means dealing with new diseases and ailments, which can negatively impact the health of our teeth and gums. For instance, your risk of cavities increases with age. Why?
Dry Mouth and Medications
As we age, the number of medications that we may need to take as part of our daily routine can increase. Thus, those medications can cause dry mouth. Without the protections that saliva provides for your teeth, you naturally are at greater risk of cavities. Dry mouth also increases your chances of other mouth conditions, such as fungal infections or difficulty swallowing.
Working with your Fallbrook dental office, you can address dry mouth through various treatments, but it is also important to regularly check with your doctor before being prescribed a new medication. Do so will allow you to find effective dry mouth treatments before you start the new medications and reduce the risk to your teeth and gums.
Addressing Gum Recession
As we age, it is increasingly possible that our gums can recede. The biggest reason for them to do so is a lack of proper dental care. By maintaining your flossing and brushing daily routine, you can reduce gum recession. Plus, if your gums start to recede, then it could make your teeth’s roots more vulnerable and lead to increased pain and decay.
If you find that your gums are sore or inflamed, that could be a sign that tartar is building up under the gums. That buildup could result in gum disease or gingivitis. Therefore, if you notice an issue with your gums, talk with your Fallbrook dental office for additional cleaning options.
Aging Changes Your Face
When we age, our facial muscles lose strength and our facial structure changes. The result is that our teeth may start facing pressure and it creates crowding in the mouth. That crowding can make it challenging to clean your teeth properly and harder to avoid chipping a tooth. Working with an orthodontist, you may be able to widen or strengthen your dental arches and thus reduce that crowding effect.
By regularly making time for your dental care, including twice a year cleanings and regular checkups with your Fallbrook dentist, then you can protect your teeth and gums. They can stay healthy, even as you age, thus contributing to a positive quality of life. To learn more about any specific concerns with your teeth and gums, contact us today.
Gernot Winkler, DDS, is dedicated to serving clients with general and family, cosmetic, and restorative dentistry. Located in Fallbrook, Dr. Winkler sees patients throughout San Diego County including neighboring cities such as Fallbrook, Bonsall, Rainbow, and Temecula.