What dental problems are common among older people?
As you age, changes happen to your body–subtle things like wrinkles, graying hair, aches and pains. And it’s no different with your mouth. With advancing age, you become more susceptible to conditions that can seriously affect your oral health. That’s why it’s important to understand these conditions and what you can do about them. Gum disease is caused by bacterial plaque, which releases toxins that irritate the tissue around the teeth. It is a major cause of tooth loss among older adults. Ill-fitting dentures, poor diet, poor oral hygiene and some medications can increase the severity of this condition. It’s critical that gum disease is detected early because the longer it goes untreated, the worse it can get. THE SIGNS OF GUM DISEASE • Gums that bleed or are red, swollen and tender. • Gums that have pulled away from the teeth. • Pus that appears between the teeth and gums. • Teeth that are loose or have changed position. • Bad breath or bad taste in the mouth. Saliva flow often dec
