Dental Treatment: Information on Aging and Teeth

As we get older, it becomes more difficult to maintain good oral health, making it very important to understand how aging affects your teeth. Even after a lifetime of meticulous care, teeth and gums age just like the rest of the body. But with help from an experienced cosmetic dentist it is possible to maintain healthy, young-looking teeth.

At the Colonial Dental Group, our goal is to educate people about taking care of their teeth and when necessary to restore tooth function and beauty using a variety of dental refurbishments.

Fragile teeth

Aging teeth become more brittle and more susceptible to breakage. Over a lifetime of dental work, the metal fillings and crowns we may have accumulated can weaken teeth even further. You can have them replaced with porcelain fillings and crowns. That will not only strengthen the teeth and prolong their lives, but also restore a natural-looking attractiveness to your smile.

If tooth damage is not too severe, porcelain veneers can be applied to cracked, chipped, or gapped teeth to strengthen them and provide a glossy new front surface. Aging teeth are more in danger of tooth decay so proper hygiene should be conducted on a daily basis.

Gum disease

The gum line gradually recedes as we grow older. The whole body can become a little less capable of throwing off infections. Therefore excellent dental hygiene is crucial. Daily brushing and flossing are essential, and you can also rinse with anti-microbial mouthwash. Be aware though that there are always bacteria in the mouth regardless of what we do to reduce their numbers.

A fluoride mouthwash could be helpful in keeping teeth strong, and when you go for your regular visits to the dentist, you can have a fluoride treatment. Those regular visits are crucial too. They include not only tartar removal, but also mouth cancer screening and a check of the size of the pockets between teeth and gums. Those pockets are a favorite place for bacteria to multiply.

Dry mouth

Saliva keeps our teeth moist and helps keep them clean. The older we get, the dryer our mouths become. Some medications also contribute to dry mouth. The lack of saliva can increase bacterial numbers, resulting in tooth decay. It is important to drink a lot of water and stay well-hydrated.

Tooth replacement

When a tooth is lost, there are two gaps: one we can see among the teeth, and one we can't see, in the jawbone. The body will try to fill both gaps. Teeth will slowly migrate out of position to fill the visible gap and the jawbone will shrink to fill the bone gap. Therefore it's important to replace missing teeth as soon as possible. You can have dentures or a bridge. But the most reliable and comfortable way is to have dental implants. These are artificial tooth roots permanently positioned in the jawbone. They hold a porcelain tooth, or several.

If you are in the Chicago area, and would like to learn more about how to keep your teeth and smile looking fresh and young, please contact us at the Colonial Dental Group today to schedule an appointment.