Dental hygiene - aging; Teeth - aging; Oral hygiene - aging
Aging changes occur in all of the body's cells, tissues, and organs. These changes affect all parts of the body, including the teeth and gums.
Certain health conditions that are more common in older adults and taking certain medicines can also affect oral health.
Learn what you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy in your later years.
Certain changes occur slowly over time in our bodies as we age:
These changes affect tissue and bone in the mouth, which increases the risk for oral health problems in later years.
DRY MOUTH
Older adults are more at risk for dry mouth. This can occur because of age, medicine use, or certain health conditions.
Saliva plays an important role in maintaining oral health. It protects your teeth from decay and helps your gums stay healthy. When the salivary glands in your mouth don't produce enough saliva, it can increase the risk for:
Your mouth may produce a bit less saliva as you get older. But medical problems that occur in older adults are more common causes of dry mouth:
GUM PROBLEMS
Receding gums are common in older adults. This is when the gum tissue pulls away from the tooth, exposing the base, or root, of the tooth. This makes it easy for bacteria to build up and cause inflammation and decay.
A lifetime of brushing too hard can cause gums to recede. However, gum disease (periodontal disease) is the most common cause of receding gums.
Gingivitis is an early type of gum disease. It occurs due when plaque and tartar build up and irritate and inflame the gums. Severe gum disease is called periodontitis. It can lead to loss of teeth.
Certain conditions and diseases common in older adults can put them at risk for periodontal disease.
CAVITIES
Dental cavities occur when bacteria in the mouth (contained in plaque) changes sugars and starches from food into acid. This acid attacks tooth enamel and can lead to cavities.
Cavities are common in older adults in part because more adults are keeping their teeth for their lifetime. Because older adults often have receding gums, cavities are more likely to develop at the root of the tooth.
Dry mouth also causes bacteria to build up in the mouth more easily, leading to tooth decay.
ORAL CANCER
Oral cancer is more common in people older than age 45 and is twice as common in men as in women.
Smoking and other types of tobacco use are the most common cause of oral cancer. Drinking alcohol in excess along with tobacco use greatly increases the risk for oral cancer.
Other factors that may increase the risk for oral cancer include:
No matter what your age, proper dental care can keep your teeth and gums healthy.
If medicines are causing dry mouth, talk with your health care provider to see if you may be able to change medicines. Ask about artificial saliva or other products to help keep your mouth moist.
You should contact your dentist if you notice:
Niessen LC, Gibson G, Hartshorn JE. Geriatric patients. In: Stefanac SJ, Nesbit SP, eds. Diagnosis and Treatment Planning in Dentistry. 3rd ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2017:chap 17.
Needleman I. Aging and the periodontium. In: Newman MG, Takei HH, Klokkevold PR, Carranza FA, eds. Newman and Carranza's Clinical Periodontology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 4.
Schrieber A, Alsabban L, Fulmer T, Glickman R. Geriatric dentistry: maintaining oral health in the geriatric population. In: Fillit HM, Rockwood K, Young J, eds. Brocklehurst's Textbook of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 110.
BACK TO TOPReview Date: 4/17/2022
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Health Content Provider
06/01/2025
|
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, for Health Content Provider (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial policy, editorial process and privacy policy. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics. This site complied with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information from 1995 to 2022, after which HON (Health On the Net, a not-for-profit organization that promoted transparent and reliable health information online) was discontinued. |
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- 2024 A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.