How Teeth Change With Age

Your teeth enable you to chew food and enhance your speech. However, like other body parts, your teeth and gums change as you age. Your teeth can show signs of wear and tear as you advance in age, and some dental issues can cause discomfort or functional problems. You must understand how your teeth change with age to be able to take the proper precautions. Taking good care of your teeth as you age ensures that your teeth serve you for a long time. You should partner with an experienced dentist to help you identify and address dental issues as soon as they occur.

Changes In Your Teeth As You Age

Your teeth can change in the following ways as you age:

Teeth Shifting Closer Together

Your teeth can shift as you advance in age. This shift is commonly known as "physiological mesial drift." Physiological mesial drift is the movement of the teeth towards the front of the dental arch. The lower and upper teeth will begin shifting, but the shifting often starts with the lower teeth.

Teeth shifting in elderly people occurs because of bone loss and compromised bone density in their bodies, including the jaws. In this case, the shrinking jawbone leaves less space for the teeth, making them come closer or crowd together. If this happens, your teeth will become weak. Teeth crowding can also be caused by problems not linked to natural teeth shifting. Facial trauma, tongue thrust, reverse swallowing, and chronic mouth breathing can cause teeth to shift as you age.

Overlapping Teeth

You can start experiencing teeth overlap as a result of teeth shifting together. Overlapping teeth can lead to serious dental problems, such as missing teeth and teeth grinding. Overlapping teeth can significantly affect your oral health, teeth functions, and smile. Keeping crowded teeth free from gum disease, tooth decay, and plaque is challenging. Brush bristles may not effectively reach the tight spaces between overlapping teeth. In this situation, you should carry out regular flossing.

A Deepening Bite

Your bite can change as you get older. Some of the indicators that your normal bite is advancing to an excessive overbite include:

Difficulty with chewing effectively and efficiently
Teeth grinding
Popping or clicking in your jaw joints
Headaches

Sometimes, the upper front teeth can protrude if your upper teeth overlap the lower teeth in an excessive overbite. A misaligned or deep bite can later change the shape of your face.

Jawbone Loss

The bone that anchors your teeth can shrink due to age, gum disease, or tooth loss. This can result in a change in your facial appearance and can affect your walking and eating. Other signs of jawbone loss include:

Receding gums
Loose teeth

Some of the steps you can take to stop bone loss include:

Managing gum disease by seeking immediate treatment. You can also consider regular good oral hygiene and professional cleanings.
Avoid smoking because smoking slows down blood circulation, making it hard for a person's gums to heal.
Observing a healthy diet, such as eating food rich in calcium and vitamin D. These nutrients help maintain strong bones. The foods rich in these nutrients include fish like salmon, leafy greens, and dairy products.

Dentists often use the following methods to reverse bone loss and restore both aesthetics and function:

Certain medications can enhance bone growth or prevent further bone loss. Your dentist can prescribe the drug if your bone loss is severe.
Dental implants can also play a significant role in reversing bone loss. When a dental implant is placed in areas of bone loss, titanium in the implant will stimulate the surrounding bone to regenerate and prevent further loss.
Your dentist can perform bone grafting. This is a popular procedure used to reverse bone loss. It involves extracting bone material from another body part and putting it where the bone has been lost. The graft will help regenerate the jawbone over time, making it strong enough to anchor a dental implant.

Gum Recession

As you advance in age, many transformations take place in your mouth, including gum recession. Gum recession occurs when the gums pull away from the teeth and expose the tooth roots. Your teeth will appear longer following gum recession. While gum recession can occur in people of all ages, it is more common in older people. Some of the common factors contributing to receding gums include:

Gum disease becomes more probable as you age. Plaque and bacteria can cause inflammation in the gums, the bone beneath, and the connective tissues. If untreated, it can lead to tooth loss, gum retraction, and bone loss. This often begins early, when a person is 20 years old, but becomes more apparent in old age.
Harsh tooth brushing that causes chronic trauma. This often begins in a person's 20s or 30s, but the effects typically become apparent in older age. Gradual wearing of the tissue can occur around one or two teeth, leading to gum recession.
Genetic predisposition, and
Smoking

You can easily adopt preventive measures by first understanding the nuances of gum recession and how it is associated with aging. This will help you maintain your smile and dental well-being through the years.

Cracked And Worn-out Teeth

Decades of biting and chewing can cause minor cracks or chips on the teeth's surfaces. The cracks can become more serious if left untreated. This would require more complicated dental work, which can lead to tooth loss if not addressed. The following are some factors that enhance the risk of cracked teeth as you advance in age:

Teeth grinding or clenching often takes place at night. This usually exerts pressure on teeth, enhancing the risk of cracks.
Receding gums expose more tooth roots, making them less protected by the enamel. This makes the tooth more susceptible to cracking.
Dry mouth is caused by insufficient saliva production. Saliva is essential since it keeps the teeth healthy and strong. Aging people experience decreased saliva production, leading to weakened tooth structure.
The dentin becomes naturally brittle as you advance in age. This lowers the capacity of the dentin to absorb stress and distribute forces equally throughout the tooth, thus increasing the risk of breaking.
Decades of chewing, grinding, and exposure to acidic drinks and food can wear down the enamel gradually, making your teeth more prone to cracks.

Cracked teeth can be treated successfully and prevented from further damage if diagnosed early. The signs of a cracked tooth include:

Visible crack on the surface of the tooth
Swelling and inflammation around the cracked tooth
Continuous ache or dull throbbing pain
Sharp pain when biting on hard food or sensitivity to cold or hot temperatures

Cracked teeth can be treated depending on the severity of the crack. Some of the treatment procedures include:

Tooth extraction
Root canal therapy
Dental crowns
Dental bonding

Increased Risk Of Gum Disease

Older people often suffer from gum disease. Gum recession, caused by improper oral care or aging, can expose the roots of your teeth, enhancing susceptibility to decay and infection. Other factors that can contribute to gum disease in older people include:

Changes in the immune system — Changes in a person's immune system, associated with age, can significantly affect the body's ability to fight infections like gum disease.
Certain medications can also cause dry mouth, increasing the risk of gum disease.
Poor nutrition because of difficulty in eating due to a lack of teeth can lead to nutritional deficiencies. This can later compromise oral health.

Regular visits to a dentist will enhance the detection of gum disease and prevent further damage.

Increased Tooth Sensitivity

As you age, your enamel will become thin, and your gums recede, leading to tooth sensitivity. Sweet, cold, and hot foods can cause discomfort. You might also feel severe pain when brushing. Other causes of tooth sensitivity as you age include:

Smoking
Diabetes can lead to gum disease
Acid reflux
Tooth grinding
Regular eating and drinking acidic foods
Overly vigorous tooth brushing
Poor flossing and brushing habits

The prime age for tooth sensitivity is between 20 and 50 years, with most cases developing between 30 and 40 years. Tooth sensitivity is common in adults because time results in more wear and tear on tooth enamel.

The dentist can recommend dental crowns or veneers if sensitivity continues. Crowns or veneers will cover exposed tooth areas and reduce discomfort. You can also employ the following remedies:

Use a soft-bristled toothbrush
Use desensitizing toothpaste
Floss and brush your teeth gently to prevent erosion of your tooth enamel and gums

Tooth Discoloration

It is common for the teeth to lose their youthful brightness and become stained or dark as you grow older. Dentists outline that aging greatly influences the color of teeth, and older people's teeth tend to appear darker than younger people. Some of the factors that contribute to tooth discoloration in old age include:

Poor oral hygiene is when a person neglects oral care, allowing tartar and plaque to build up, leading to yellowing and darkening of teeth.
Smoking and using other forms of tobacco also enhance tooth discoloration in older people. Removing tobacco stains with brushing alone is challenging because they are often deep.
Beverages and foods an aging person consumes play a significant role in tooth discoloration, particularly if consumed often.
Enamel wear in old age also contributes to teeth discoloration. This happens because of years of brushing, chewing, and exposure to acidic drinks and foods. When the enamel wears off, it exposes the inner layer known as the dentin, which is yellow. The tooth enamel wears down naturally as you age because of environmental factors, diet, and years of use. The shrinking enamel can expose your teeth to cavities and sensitivity. Preventive care, avoiding acidic foods, and brushing with fluoride toothpaste can help protect your enamel.

Dental Care For Older People

The following are some of the ways you can use to maintain healthy teeth as you advance in age:

Avoid Soda And Drink Lots Of Water

Try your best and avoid taking soda when you want something to drink. Citrus juices and sodas have a lot of sugar. Consuming too many sugary drinks will enhance acidity in your mouth, destroy your enamel, cause cavities, and lead to tooth loss.

Drinking lots of water is beneficial to your body. Water will dilute and wash away acids in your mouth. It is also a natural deterrent for dry mouth.

Managing Diabetes

Most elderly people suffer from diabetes. A person suffering from diabetes should keep their gums healthy. People suffering from diabetes are more susceptible to gum disease. Treating gum disease can improve blood sugar levels and prevent the progression of diabetes. You should maintain a healthy smile and manage diabetes by making regular dental visits.

Monitor The Side Effects Of Medication

Monitor any changes in your mouth, teeth, or gums if you are starting a new treatment. Contact your dentist immediately if you experience any problems due to your treatment or specific medication.

Consider Implants or Dentures

You can consider dentures if you experience tooth loss. You can also go for dental implants, which last longer and serve as your natural tooth roots. Implants are natural-looking, permanent, and safe, and they can restore the look of your original teeth. Implants prevent jaw joint problems and offer better chewing ability by stabilizing your jawbone. You should consult your dentist about the options available.

Take good care of the dentures if you have them. You should clean dentures daily with a product meant for them. Give your mouth regular breaks from dentures. Remove the dentures at least four hours a day, especially while sleeping.

Use Mouthwash Carefully

If you rinse your mouth with mouthwash multiple times daily, consider reducing the frequency. Mouthwash is ideal for preventing plaque buildup and cavities. Unfortunately, it can affect the pH balance in your mouth and cause dry mouth.

Dry mouth problems are common in aging people. It is, therefore, vital that you avoid overusing it. You should only rinse your mouth once before retiring to bed.

Practice Regular Brushing And Flossing

Brushing and flossing your teeth twice a day is ideal, but your dentist can advise you on making changes. The teeth and gums of older people have undergone significant normal wear and tear, requiring a gentle approach. Plaque is hard to remove when someone is over 50 years old; it builds up faster. The recommended brushing and flossing methods for the elderly include:

Floss After Every Meal

Flossing after every meal is important, as plaque can accumulate more quickly on older adults' teeth.

Using Soft Bristle Brush

Whether you use an electric brush or a conventional toothbrush, always use a soft-bristle brush. Use gentle and slow movements and avoid heavy-handed approaches.

Use An Electric Toothbrush

Use an electric toothbrush to clean your teeth since it can penetrate difficult areas. It also has a built-in timer to ensure you clean your teeth for the designated period. Additionally, if you are suffering from arthritis or joint pain, an electric toothbrush is easier to hold.

The Benefits Of Good Oral Hygiene As You Age

Good oral hygiene is beneficial because it does the following:

Lowering The Risk Of Oral Cancer

Observing good oral hygiene practices like flossing and brushing can lower the risk of suffering from oral cancer. Poor oral hygiene can increase your risk of oral cancer. Visiting your dentist regularly for dental cleanings can enable the dentist to identify signs of oral cancer before the condition progresses.

Reducing The Need For Dental Work

Observing good oral hygiene practices can minimize the need for time-consuming and costly dental treatments like dentures, crowns, and fillings. You can prevent dental cavities and gum disease by observing proper oral health practices. This reduces the risk of costly treatments in the future.

Improved Ability To Eat And Swallow

Chewing and swallowing food can be challenging when you have dental issues. This can significantly affect your health, leading to weight loss or malnutrition.

Enhancing Self-Esteem And Social Interactions

A healthy smile often promotes self-confidence and social interaction. When you meet new people, your smile is likely the first thing they will notice about you. A healthy smile makes you feel beautiful, making it easier to interact with people.

Promoting Overall Health

Maintaining good oral health promotes overall well-being by preventing infections, improving nutrition, and lowering the risks of diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.

Preventing Systemic Infections

Infections can attack essential organs like the lungs and heart because of poor oral hygiene. For example, if you have infected gums, this infection can spread to your crucial organs like the heart and lungs.

Preventing Tooth Decay And Gum Disease

Flossing and brushing your teeth twice daily can prevent plaque and tartar buildup. This, in turn, will avoid the risk of cavities and gum disease.

Find An Experienced Dentist Near Me

Your teeth are prone to wear and tear and other dental conditions as you age. Given your teeth's crucial role, you should adopt proper oral hygiene practices to ensure that your teeth serve you in the long run. Visiting a dentist regularly ensures that dental issues are identified early and the appropriate treatment is adopted. At Tarzana Dental Care, we have experienced dentists who can identify and treat any dental problems. Contact us at 818-708-3232 to speak to one of our dentists.