Effects of Aging on Oral Health

With aging, there are different changes which tend to happen in our bodies. And, oral health is no different in this regard. The effects of aging can bring oral and dental health down. A few oral health conditions which are specifically associated with the aging are mentioned below.

Cavities

Generally, the cavities are associated with the children’s teeth. However, the aged people are more prone to get cavities. Although aging is a good enough reason for the deterioration of oral health, certain medications also contribute in the development of oral health issues. The major side effect of most of the medications is that they cause mouth dryness. Mouth dryness can lead to the overall bacterial balance to tilt towards the development of extra bad bacteria. Hence the chances of cavities in older people are higher mainly due to aging and use of certain medications.

Now, the cavities in older people can be prevented by avoiding mouth dryness. For this purpose, you have to convey your concerns to your dentist. Your dentist may ask about the medications you are on. With this information, the dentist may suggest you different ways to keep your mouth hydrated.

Gum disease

Gum disease develops due to development of plaque and tartar on the teeth. This tartar irritates the gums, leading to inflammation. This inflammation can result in the development of packets under the gums line. The pockets become hubs where bacteria can thrive.

Now, if we look at the process of aging, it can cause the gums to recede. Generally, it is quite difficult for anyone to maintain perfect oral hygiene throughout a lifetime. So, it is quite normal for the older people to see the plaque accumulated on their teeth.

Mouth Cancer

A stat is worth sharing here that the average age of people diagnosed with oral cancer is 62. Therefore, it is quite necessary to visit the dentist every now and then to make sure that you are not affected by this fatal disease. The benefit of dental visits on timely basis is that you will be able to get the problem identified in earliest of its stages. Hence, the treatment at this stage may not cause much of discomfort. The matter of fact is that you also can look for the oral cancer signs. If you see any change in the lip color and inner cheeks, you should consider visiting your dentist. Moreover, open sores and white or red patches anywhere in the oral cavity are worth paying attention to.