What Are Some Common Oral Conditions Found In Older People

While anyone at any point can find problems with their oral care, as you get older, everything starts to deteriorate. Your body isn’t what it was some thirty, forty, or fifty years ago and while your teeth are strong, time can impact your health. Regardless of how well you look after them, there are some common oral conditions that occur as a result.

Not everyone looks after their teeth though, especially as they get older. It’s important to do what you can to improve your dental and oral care in general, especially when avoiding tooth loss.

How long do the average person’s teeth last?

Ever wondered just how long your teeth should last? While it’s not a thought that comes often to everyone, it’s an interesting thought at that. Well, many individuals can make it until their 90s until they need to consider getting dentures or having any teeth removed and replaced.

Of course, it’s all about how often and how well you look after your teeth. That goes for brushing, flossing, and mouth washing, as well as what you’re putting in your mouth. For example, too much candy is really going to rot your teeth, and skipping brushing is never a good idea.

4 common oral conditions to expect as you get older

What are some of the common oral conditions to expect as you get older? As you enter those golden years of your life, here are some oral conditions to be wary of so that you can try to avoid them where possible.

Tooth decay

Tooth decay is often tackled successfully when it’s spotted early on. However, as many get older, the trips to the dentist might become more sporadic and tooth decay can have a bigger impact as a result. 

Untreated tooth decay is one of the common oral conditions that many older people can expect to experience. 

Tooth loss

A lot of adults once they’ve reached the age of 65, will have lost many or all of their teeth. Complete tooth loss is dominant for those who are older. While many can live until they’re 90 before needing teeth removed, that’s not the case for everyone.

Missing teeth can also cause complications when it comes to eating food too.

Gum disease

Gum disease is another problem that occurs in older people. As many can tend to neglect their teeth, it also has an impact on your gums too. That’s why it’s important to brush your teeth and gums when brushing every day.

Oral cancer

One of the nastiest cancers to experience is oral cancer. While it doesn’t impact everyone, it seems to be a common diagnosis made for those at an older age.

Keep an eye on your teeth with regular dental checkups 

To help look after your teeth as you get older, a regular trip to the dentist is a must. Make sure you take yourself to a Nashua dentist to get your teeth seen and to maintain their health for many years to come.