Older Teeth Need Love Too

Ah, youth is wasted on the young! They do not fully appreciate what they have. Such is the way of things. As you get older, you realize that taking care of your teeth and your overall oral health is of utmost importance. After all, we only have one set of natural teeth… OK, so, we had baby teeth, which is technically two sets, but they fell out long ago. You don’t want that to happen to the adult ones! After all, we aren’t sharks and there won’t be another set rotating in.

So, what can we do to protect our aging adult teeth? Well, the tried and true methods we’ve been told from the beginning still apply:

– Brush two times each day with a soft toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste.
– Floss once a day to get the plaque that hides in between teeth.
– Visit the dentist every six months for a professional cleaning.
– Don’t eat so much sugar and starch in your diet.

Beyond the above sage advice, the following is what to watch for as an older person who wants to be made aware of the dental concerns that typically happen to us as we get older.

– Gum disease can be a concern and is affiliated with heart disease, diabetes, and other problems associated with getting older.
– Decay can attach existing fillings and dental work as the teeth wear and the mouth and gums change.
– Sensitive teeth can be a sign that a root is exposed, enamel has worn down, or there is a cracked or fractured tooth that needs a crown.

If you’d like more information about aging teeth and what you can do to care for them, feel free to call Dr. Jason Pujo and our team at Merrimack Valley Dentistry. You can make an appointment at: 978-957-1898, or come by our office in Dracut, Massachusetts.