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Mar 6, 2024 · As you get older, everyday wear and tear takes a toll on your teeth. But there's plenty you can do to keep them in great shape. Follow these rules and you’ll have lots to smile about as the ...
- Avoid unnecessary forces. Avoid using your teeth to hold things such as working tools or to open packaging. Take measures to avoid forces such as grinding or clenching by wearing a night guard.
- Share the load. If you are missing molars or premolars, distribute chewing forces evenly to prevent overloading your remaining teeth. Replace missing teeth with bridges, implants or well-fitted dentures to support your bite.
- Preserve your enamel. Reduce further enamel and dentine loss by selecting soft-bristled tooth brushes and non-abrasive toothpastes. Certain whitening toothpastes can be abrasive, which can roughen and wear the tooth surfaces.
- Enhance your saliva. Saliva protects against acid attacks, flushes our teeth, and has antibacterial properties to reduce erosion and decay (holes forming).
- Wear and Tear
- A Strong Supporting Cast
- Tobacco and Age
- Make The Moist of It
- The Mouth-Body Connection
- Covering The Cost
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Teeth are amazingly strong. Your molars can bear down with over 200 pounds of pressure. But they're not indestructible. A lifetime of crunching, gnawing, and grinding wears away the outer layer of enamel and flattens the biting edges. Tooth surfaces are also affected by exposure to acidic foods such as citrus fruits and carbonated beverages, which ...
While sturdy teeth are the stars of a healthy mouth, they can't perform without a strong supporting cast — the gums and soft, wet tissue that line the oral cavity. Periodontal disease, characterized by receding gums, wobbly teeth, and deterioration of the jawbone, is the primary culprit in tooth loss among older adults. It gets started when plaque ...
As with many cancers, the risk of developing an oral cavity cancer increases with age and tobacco use. The vast majority of people who get a mouth-related cancer are tobacco users; the likelihood of developing oral cancer rises with each year a person smokes or chews tobacco. The lip is the most common site for oral cavity cancer, followed by the t...
Age brings more health problems, and that often means multiple medications, many of which can have a detrimental effect on your oral health. For example, calcium-channel blockers for heart disease and antiseizure drugs can cause the proliferation of puffy gum tissue, particularly around the lower front teeth. Good oral hygiene can combat this probl...
The well-being of your aging mouth is tied to the health of the rest of your body. There's mounting evidence of an association between gum inflammation and conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory problems, all of which are more prevalent in later life. Scientists postulate that bacteria from gum infections travel through...
Not keeping up with your oral health is going to cause problems at any age, but as you get older, the problems get worse. Missing and loose teeth can make it hard to eat and talk. As food choices become more limited, good nutrition and, eventually, overall health can go downhill fast. Speech problems and facial changes from missing teeth often lead...
Learn how aging affects your teeth, gums, and oral cavity, and what you can do to prevent or treat common problems such as decay, gum disease, and oral cancer. Find out how to maintain your oral health with proper hygiene, diet, and medications.
- 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, 02115, MA
- hhp_info@health.harvard.edu
- (877) 649-9457
Jan 1, 2022 · To maintain good dental health as they age, older adults should see their dentist every six months for check-ups and cleanings. In between, they should follow a daily dental hygiene routine of rinsing, brushing, and flossing to reduce plaque buildup, gingivitis, and cavities.
- 4 Blackfan Circle, 4th Floor, Boston, 02115, MA
- hhp_info@health.harvard.edu
- (877) 649-9457
Despite dry mouth and receding gums, many older adults retain their teeth, especially people who do not develop cavities or periodontal disease. Older adults who lose some or all of their teeth will likely need partial or full dentures and/or implants.
Aug 27, 2021 · Older Americans are keeping their teeth longer, but the prevalence of tooth loss is higher among people with chronic disease or overall worse health. However, loss of a tooth can also result from tooth decay, periodontal infection, or accidental trauma.
