My last blog spoke to the younger patients we see in our practice, so it follows that I address the more mature patients in the practice. Yes, there are many of us, me included, who compose the “Long of Tooth” group.
Speaking of the long of tooth, I think sometimes that refers to receding gums that occur in the aging population, but it could also refer to the over erupting front teeth that happen when back teeth are lost and not replaced. I wasn’t meaning to go down that path, I’ll save that discussion for another time.
I do want to discuss more common issues senior adults face. I see many folks with excellent dental work in their mouths, but some suffer with receded gums and exposed root surfaces. These exposed roots aren’t protected by hard enamel, can be sensitive, and are more prone to decay because their rougher surface tends to retain plaque. The roots aren’t as wear resistant as the enamel either and exhibit erosion from regular tooth brushing. I steer people away from whitening, polishing and tartar control toothpastes mostly because they can contribute to root sensitivity and wear. I prefer the least abrasive toothpaste possible preferably with fluoride and occasionally potassium nitrate, a known desensitizing agent, as acceptable additives.
Many of our mature patients are on numerous medications that commonly have dry mouth (xerostomia) as a common side effect. There are also disease states and therapies that result in diminished saliva production. These are very challenging conditions to deal with. Obviously continuous hydration (i.e. keeping a bottle of water handy) is useful but sometimes impractical. There are saliva substitutes, Glycerin based oral rinses that “stick” to the tooth surfaces as well as some oral lozenges and chewing gums intended to stimulate saliva production. For this population, pristine oral hygiene is an absolute must. Brushing and flossing with regular and occasionally more frequent dental examinations are irreplaceable in the management of these folks.
Dexterity issues plague many senior adults and I encourage many patients, both young and old, to purchase a rechargeable mechanical toothbrush. It doesn’t need all of the bells and whistles or blinking lights or the ability to text your spouse to notify them you’ve brushed the proper amount of time! No, a spinning or oscillating brush will work fine and if it has a timer, it’s a bonus. These machines assist in reaching and cleaning hard to get areas and do a thorough job of cleaning.
To close I’ll just say that as we age, oral hygiene continues to be a very important health practice, and as we’ve discussed, senior dental hygiene has its own inherent challenges for some senior adults. We can discuss your specific case at your next check-up!
See you then,
Dr. Fort