Seniors And Tooth Loss

As we have only one set of adult teeth for our entire lives, it is common for teeth to become damaged, for the enamel to be weakened, and for things such as cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss to occur. There are methods to reduce tooth loss; maintaining proper dental care and dental health throughout life is imperative. The best way to prevent tooth loss as you age is to begin proper dental hygiene and care early in life and to maintain those habits as you age.

Brushing And Flossing

Brushing and flossing are the cornerstones of tooth and gum care. Teeth should be brushed twice each day, and can be brushed an extra time after sugary or sticky foods have been consumed. Flossing will remove build-up and get into areas around the tooth that a toothbrush can’t reach. This helps to remove build-up before cavities are formed, which increases the life span of the tooth and lowers the chances it will fall out or need to be removed.

Other Factors

Gum health is important to maintain the teeth. As gums become damaged or weakened they begin to recede away from the teeth. This process can leave the roots of the teeth exposed and increase their probability of falling out. Once a root is exposed it has less area to hold the tooth in place and may not be able to at all, resulting in tooth loss. Other factors for tooth loss include brushing too hard and weakening the seat of the tooth, bacterial infections or other causes of gum disease, not caring for the teeth properly, smoking, and grinding teeth.

Grinding Teeth

Grinding teeth will create increased wear over time and may result in either losing pieces of the tooth – which can lead to loss of the entire tooth - or cause the tooth to become loose as the roots are weakened and worn. While seniors may find some teeth come out on their own, they are also more likely to have teeth pulled due to compounded damages and an inability to repair the tooth simply because of how long it has been damaged.

Missing Teeth

Tooth loss can have many negative effects on our health and lives. When the teeth are not in place it allows the jaw bone itself to recede and lose its structure. A missing tooth creates a larger gum opening for bacteria and infections so extra flossing and brushing should be focused on to maintain the health of the surrounding teeth. Having missing teeth also makes it harder to eat which can lead to not consuming the proper nutrients. Supplements can help with a soft food diet focused on fruits and vegetables to provide the necessary nutrients.

Tooth Replacement

Once teeth have been removed or become missing a replacement may be an option. Either through full or partial dentures a false set of teeth can be created to form over the gums and fill the gaps or provide a full set of teeth as needed. If dentures are not the right choice then a dental implant can be considered. This tooth replacement is implanted into the gum around a crown that is shaped to look like the tooth and helps to maintain the structure where the tooth is missing.

To avoid tooth loss as a senior it is imperative to begin and maintain proper dental hygiene all through life, but there are options such as implants, dentures, and bridges to help fill the gaps or provide full sets of teeth to those who have suffered tooth loss.

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Written By:

Kassandra Foreman has been writing freelance for five years now and enjoys learning about new things to write about. When not writing she teaches yoga and meditation with a focus on health and fitness.

Reviewed By:

Founder Ray Spotts has a passion for all things natural and has made a life study of nature as it relates to health and well-being. Ray became a forerunner bringing products to market that are extraordinarily effective and free from potentially harmful chemicals and additives. For this reason Ray formed Trusted Health Products, a company you can trust for clean, effective, and healthy products. Ray is an organic gardener, likes fishing, hiking, and teaching and mentoring people to start new businesses. You can get his book for free, “How To Succeed In Business Based On God’s Word,” at www.rayspotts.com.