Your Aging Teeth

As you age, so do your teeth, from everyday wear and tear. Your teeth are very strong, but chewing, biting and teeth grinding wear down tooth enamel, the hard protective layer on the outside of your teeth. That may also cause your teeth also flatten. These changes that you may experience as you age, may also make your teeth more sensitive.

Did You Know?

Saliva helps clean teeth and protects your mouth from decay. But as you get older, your mouth gets drier, and your odds of tooth decay go up. If you are on certain types of medication this could cause dry mouth, so it is important to drink lots of water. Sugarless gum or sugarless sucking candy will keep the saliva flowing.

When the salivary glands in your mouth don’t produce enough saliva, it can increase the risk for:

Problems tasting, chewing, and swallowing
Mouth sores
Gum disease and tooth decay
Yeast infection in the mouth (thrush)
Plaque, which is bacteria, is constantly forming on your teeth and must be removed to keep your gums healthy and to prevent inflammation, bleeding and infections.

Switching to a toothpaste for sensitive can help but check with your dentist for in office treatment solutions.

Watch what you eat. Stay away from sugary foods and drinks that contain acid which wear away tooth enamel. A drink of milk or some cheese will wash away acid away. It is best not to chew ice or other hard foods to prevent breakage.