Mind & Body

Mary returned to the dentist when she was pregnant: “I just felt it was the right thing to do to check that my mouth was healthy as part of looking after myself and my baby. The bonus was that it was also free!”

Since then, Mary has gone to the dentist for regular check-ups twice a year and has noticed how dental care has changed: “Dentists now focus more on prevention rather than cure. When I was much younger they filled most of my teeth which has meant that they have got weaker as I have aged. As a result two had to be extracted recently because nothing more could be done with them.

“My dentist is now much more focused on encouraging me to care for my teeth better and stop him from having to do any more work on them. He has taught me how to brush better and also encouraged me to floss regularly. Flossing seems such a faff and it wasn’t something that I was brought up doing as a child, but it does help me to keep my tooth health in check. I’m much more aware of spending time taking care of my teeth and making sure that I brush carefully on the gum line to keep gum disease at bay. After all, this is the only set of real teeth I have and I intend to keep them – despite what else the ageing process throws at me!”

Advice from Dr Henry Clover, Chief Dental Adviser for Denplan:

As we age, teeth and gums will of course suffer from wear and tear, and it's as you hit your 50s and 60s that real problems will start to show themselves. However, as with all self-care, a good awareness of what to expect and how to minimise the impact will put you in good stead to combat anything that age throws at you!

As Mary has experienced, our mouth, teeth and gums go through changes with age. As she proved, having a dentist that helps you to deal with these changes before they become a problem will make a real difference to your oral health, as well as your wider health and lifestyle.

What to look out for

• Teeth may darken with age because of changes in dentin (what’s beneath your enamel).
• Plaque may build up much faster.
• Teeth may become more brittle as years of chewing wears down tooth enamel. This makes teeth more sensitive and increases the risk that they might crack or break when chewing normally.
• Gums may start to recede or thin because of years of too forceful tooth brushing or the onset of gum disease such as gingivitis and periodontal disease. Bleeding gums is often an indicator of this and, if left unchecked, will increase the risk of tooth decay.
• Newly sensitive teeth may also indicate the start of gum disease. Gum disease will start without any symptoms, and many people don't know they have it until damage or secondary symptoms appear. More than half of adults over age 55 have at least a mild case and if left unchecked, bacteria may get into the bloodstream and increase the risk of conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.
• Old fillings may fracture or leak around the edges, allowing decay-causing bacteria to accumulate in the tiny crevices.
• Oral cancer is a rare condition but it does occur more frequently in older individuals.
• Oral cancer can affect the lips, gum tissues, cheek lining, tongue and the hard or soft palate.
• If you suffer from mouth dryness, this isn’t a normal part of ageing but more likely a side effect of medication. Saliva is antibacterial and full of minerals that strengthen enamel which protects the mouth and teeth by removing bits of food and decay-causing acid.

How to combat the signs of tooth ageing

• Fluoride is just as important in preventing cavities in adults as it is in children, so always use a fluoride toothpaste. If you have sensitive teeth, your dentist will be able to recommend a special toothpaste to reduce that.
• Remove as much plaque as possible to reduce the chances of gum disease by brushing regularly (at least twice a day, especially after meals). Widening the handle of your toothbrush with a sponge or adhesive tape may help you to get at hard to reach places. Or, consider an electric toothbrush and make sure you floss or use another inter-dental device such as small brushes, to clean between teeth.
• Medication such as antidepressants, blood pressure and bladder medicines can cause mouth dryness, so you should get your medication checked out and swap it for another if possible.
• Use daily antibacterial rinses but avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol.
• Reduce excessive alcohol intake and stop smoking - these increase the risk of oral cancer the older you get.
• As with all health, a balanced diet that avoids sweets and sweet drinks, especially between meals, will help you avoid dental fillings or worse case scenario, tooth loss.
• Drink plenty of water to help flush out the build up of acid in the mouth during the day.
• If you have full dentures, most of these tips are still relevant to you as it’s imperative that good gum health is maintained. Clean your mouth and dentures thoroughly each day and have both checked by your dentist regularly to check your gums and how the fit of the dentures has changed.

Dr Henry Clover has been a dentist for 16 years, 10 of which were in his own practice.

www.denplan.co.uk