Senior Dental Tips in Pleasanton, CA

If you no longer see the dazzling smile of your youth when you look in the mirror, Gateway Dental Care in Pleasanton, California has some senior dental tips to help take care of your teeth. As a senior, you know that getting older can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. But there are physical changes in your body and in your teeth that may be offset by preventive and restorative intervention.

Oral Health Problems Affecting Seniors

Yellowing
Gum Disease
Root Decay
Tooth Loss
Shifting Teeth
Dry Mouth
Sensitivity
Loss of Taste
Loose Teeth

Yellowing

Many years of consuming stain-causing foods and beverages, as well as a gradual thinning of the enamel layer which exposes the underlying yellow dentin, can cause your aging teeth to darken.

Gum Disease, Root Decay & Tooth Loss

A build-up of plaque can cause your gums to form deep pockets, leading to inflammation. As gum tissue recedes, your unprotected roots are exposed to acids that may cause decay. If gum disease and root decay are allowed to continue, you may eventually lose your teeth.

Shifting Teeth

When a tooth is removed without replacing it, your remaining teeth will gradually shift into the space left by your missing tooth.

Dry Mouth

Many medications cause a reduced saliva flow, along with certain diseases and cancer treatments.

Sensitivity & Loss Of Taste

As you age and your gums recede, more vulnerable areas of your teeth can become extra sensitive to hot and cold food or beverages. Aging can also cause a gradual loss of the sense of taste. But this can also be caused by medications, dentures, and some diseases.

Loose Teeth

Osteoporosis or loss of bone density can also affect your mouth as you age, causing your teeth to become loose.