Senior oral health: It's worth paying attention to your oral health
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With age, what are the main problems that can arise with teeth and gums?
The most common problems are cavities, gum disease, tooth loss, dry mouth (xerostomia), and oral cancer.
I have several health problems; can I still safely undergo dental treatments?
Yes, it's important to see the dentist regularly and inform them of all your health problems and the medications you are taking; this way, dental treatment will proceed safely.
Is it important to keep natural teeth?
Yes, we should try to keep natural teeth; a single tooth can serve as a retention point for a removable prosthesis for several years.
What are the most serious problems that can arise with the loss of natural teeth?
Aesthetic, phonetic, and functional changes; the loss of just one tooth can cause others to shift position, leading to a bite alteration.
When teeth wobble or gums bleed and hurt, what should I do?
You should urgently go to the dentist so they can assess the state of your mouth, possibly recommending an oral hygiene session to eliminate bacterial plaque and/or tartar, which are the cause of this situation.
What should I do to maintain the health of my teeth?
– Brush at least twice a day
– Use interdental brushes
– Tongue scraper
– Use a mouthwash for 2 minutes at the end
Is it worth getting dental prostheses to replace lost natural teeth?
Yes, always as soon as possible to help with chewing, swallowing, phonetics, and aesthetic appearance.
What care should I take with removable prostheses?
Maintaining prostheses requires some care:
– Cleaning prostheses and natural teeth (if present) after meals
– Cleaning with a special brush for prostheses
– Removing prostheses overnight so that the mucous membranes can rest, except in rare exceptions
– Store in water
Even if I don't have natural teeth, should I consult the dentist?
– Yes, over time, oral tissues undergo changes, and lesions can appear which, if not controlled, can turn into malignant lesions.
People with full dental prostheses experience changes in their mucous membranes and misalignments of the prostheses, which should be corrected to avoid wounds and serious lesions.
Can I get dental implants if I can't adapt to removable prostheses?
Yes, whenever necessary, you can always ask your dentist to evaluate bone availability and thus be able to get a fixed prosthesis, which will be more comfortable and easier to get used to than a removable prosthesis.
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Dentist
