The most common dental problems for over-60s and how to treat them

As you get older, your teeth and mouth change a lot. Even if your smile is in tip-top shape, over time everyday wear and tear takes a toll on your teeth and oral health. But learning about common dental problems and their causes can help you prevent them – and will save you a ton of cash and regular trips to the dental clinic.

So, here is a list of the most common age-related dental problem and how to treat them – or potentially avoid them altogether.

How to avoid dry mouth

Also known as xerostomia, dry mouth occurs when your saliva levels decrease. Saliva is important because it protects the teeth and without this regular production, bacteria can grow in the mouth and cause bad breath, gum disease and other problems. Some infections and serious health conditions including Sjogren’s syndrome, Parkinson’s disease and AIDs can also cause dry mouth.

It can also be caused by blood pressure and cholesterol medications, tricyclic antidepressants, antihistamines and anticholinergics, while those who have previously undergone cancer treatment may also experience dry mouth.

In many cases, switching medications or even using special alcohol-free mouth washes can reduce dry mouth, while it’s also important to stay hydrated by drinking water, chewing sugar-free gum and avoiding acidic foods.

What causes bad breath

While poor dental hygiene can result in halitosis, it can also be caused by bacteria issues in the mouth or other health issues in the body and getting those under control can be the best way to beat bad breath. For example, respiratory disorders and diabetes can cause smelly breath, while high blood sugar levels caused by diabetes can increase glucose levels in saliva.

Bacteria in the mouth survives off this saliva and increases levels of dental plaque – which gives off an unpleasant scent. Some people with diabetes also develop ketoacidosis, where higher levels of blood acids called ketones are produced.

In other cases it can be a sign of infections, bronchitis, inflammation of the sinuses, asthma and even lung cancer. It’s always best to seek professional help if regular brushing, flossing and cleaning doesn’t prevent bad breath, as it could be an underlying health issue that needs to be addressed.

How to prevent gum disease

People with mild versions of gum disease have gingivitis, while people with more advanced stages are likely to be dealing with periodontitis. Around 61 per cent of people over the age of 75 have moderate or severe periodontitis, which can result in the loss of bone and gums that surround the teeth.

The bone can actually recede without the gums doing so and in these cases, plaque can build up and cause inflammation, bleeding and pain. It’s important to floss and brush the teeth twice a day – even if it causes bleeding – as this can remove plaque and often restore the health of gums.

It’s also important to avoid smoking where possible and to manage diabetes if you have it as the condition can also worsen gum disease. More severe cases will also require a dentist to clean the teeth and the affected gums and it’s important to act as soon as possible as bone and gum tissue that becomes damaged can’t return.

What causes ulcers and mouth sores

Ulcers form in the mouth when the delicate tissue lining of the mouth is damaged. The most common type are Aphthous ulcers, and while health professionals are yet to determine an exact cause, it’s believed they may be brought on by stress, spicy or acidic foods, mineral and vitamin deficiencies and even hormonal changes.

They can also be caused by trauma such as biting the soft tissue of the lip or inner-cheek or even hitting the gum with a toothbrush, but usually disappear within a short time with no treatment. If ulcers are lasting for more than two weeks, it’s important to seek professional help as it could be a bigger issue or problem. Something as simple as a supplement or diet change could fix the problem, but it needs to be assessed on an individual basis.

How to handle tooth loss

Tooth loss can be caused by an array of different factors including gum disease, injury, poor dental hygiene and cavities and, while teeth can never grow back, there are a number of options available for people who do lose their teeth.

In cases where the gum, jaw and bone is strong enough, dental implants are an option. This is where professionals surgically place frames or rods in the jawbone so replacement teeth can be inserted where previous teeth have fallen out. It’s only an option in people who have healthy jaws, who don’t have gum disease and who can afford it (implants can cost thousands of dollars).

In cases where someone has significant damage to their gums and the bones in their jaw and mouth, dentures may be the only way forward. There have been significant improvements over the years in the materials used for dentures and the adhesives to hold them in place. It can take some time for the mouth to adjust to dentures but most people see improvements quickly and it’s not long before they’re able to eat, speak and drink normally.

Dentures also need to be cleaned because they are constantly coming into contact with food, beverages and other bacteria that can cause bad breath and other oral hygiene problems. Standard toothpastes should be avoided because they can cause damage to the dentures.

They need to instead be washed daily using a soft brush and denture cleaning product that is available from most dentists, pharmacists and supermarkets.