Older teeth
Older teeth need special care as they begin to suffer from a lifetime of wear and tear.
We are very experienced in managing dental problems in older people and can give you advice on how to optimise your dental health.
Below are some of the problems that can affect older teeth. If you are starting to experience any of these, we can help.
If we suspect any dental problems are related to an undiagnosed medical problem, we can refer you to a relevant specialist for further investigation.
Over time the outer layers of tooth enamel get thinner, so the darker underlayers begin to show through.
Teeth can also be discoloured by a lifetime of eating and drinking stain-causing foods like black coffee, tea and red wine etc.
We can offer advice and treatments to help make your teeth more sparkly.
When gums shrink back teeth can become more sensitive - particularly to hot and cold, or sweet and sour.
We can offer advice and treatments to help reduce the sensitivity of your teeth.
Gum disease doesn’t always hurt – particularly in the early stages. Common signs are bleeding gums, receding gums, bad breath and even loose teeth.
Because gums shrink with age, more of the tooth is exposed to decay and infection.
If you have arthritis, poor eyesight or heart failure you may find it too tiring, painful or difficult to floss and brush as much as you need.
And, if your memory is not what it was, flossing or brushing may sometimes slip your mind.
Gum disease is often worse in older people with anaemia, cancer or diabetes or who drink or smoke heavily.
We can offer advice and treatments to improve the health of your gums and teeth.
This can happen at any age but it’s particularly common in women during and after the menopause. Although its cause is unclear, it can affect your sense of taste and creates some pain in the mouth.
We can offer advice and help you manage your oral care to minimise any dental difficulties.
Saliva controls the level of bacteria, viruses and fungi in the mouth, which in turn protects your teeth from decay and infection.
Older people can often suffer from ‘dry mouth’ – a major cause of tooth root and decay. This often happens if salivary glands block or dry up, or with:
- An illness like diabetes
- Certain medications
- Damage from chemotherapy or radiation treatment
We can offer advice and help you manage your oral care to minimise any dental difficulties.
Older people are also more likely to suffer from digestive reflux (a form of indigestion where stomach acid seeps back up to the throat and mouth).
Over time, this can cause tooth rot and decay as well as other medical problems.
We can offer advice and help you manage your oral care to minimise any dental difficulties.