Fine lines, thinning hair and stiff joints can all be signs of an ageing body. Your gums, teeth and mouth are not immune to the gradual ravages of time either. But as with bones and skin, there are ways of delaying, mitigating and even avoiding the most severe effects of age on oral health. Here’s what goes on inside your mouth as you get older, and what you can do help.
Wear and tear
Teeth are strong, and you can help them stay that way - whatever your age - with regular brushing (an electric toothbrush is best), flossing, and visits to the dentist. But with all that chewing and biting going on, they inevitably show signs of wear and tear over time. That commonly means the hard outer layer of enamel thins, and grinding surfaces flatten.
Some of this is inevitable, but you can guard against more severe consequences, like chipped and broken teeth, by not crunching on hard foods. Watch out for night time grinding too (called bruxism). This can prematurely wear away teeth. If you suspect you might grind your teeth in your sleep, or your partner hears you do it, your dentist can help.
Age concerns
Another common sign of ageing is a drier mouth. Saliva helps to keep teeth clean and fight tooth decay, but our mouths often get drier as we move beyond middle age. Make sure to drink plenty of water, and if you take any medicines that dry out your mouth - as many of us do - ask your doctor about alternatives.
Nerves in teeth can become less sensitive as we get older. More pain tolerance might sound like a good thing, but it can lead to cavities and other dental problems being diagnosed later, when they’re more difficult to treat. The easiest way to counter this age-related issue is simply to keep up regular dental appointments.
And then, of course, there’s gum disease, the silent assassin. Gum disease can cause bad breath, bleeding, receding gums and eventually loose - and indeed lost - teeth, and it becomes more common as we age.
Oral hygiene is key
Like tooth decay, gum disease can creep up on us, getting gradually worse over time. But once again, the easiest way to prevent it or stop it in its tracks is good oral hygiene, and that’s true whatever our age. Brush twice a day for at least two minutes, floss regularly and see your dentist. Using an electric toothbrush will guarantee a good clean.
Another excellent piece of advice is one you will most likely have heard before: if you smoke, quit. Smoking has been linked to gum disease and oral cancers. Nicotine from smoking also stains your teeth.
Complete clean
In fact, teeth often become darker as you age, thanks to the loss of enamel. But it can be made worse by the build-up of staining from food, drink and nicotine. A good cleaning regime can help keep the worst stains at bay.
With that in mind, it’s worth remembering that it can be easier to clean your teeth thoroughly with an electric toothbrush. The Philips Sonicare ProtectiveClean 6100, for example, features three modes, for standard cleaning, stain removal and gentle gum massage respectively. For complete oral hygiene, the Philips Sonicare Airfloss Pro is an alternative to traditional flossing that combines air and water or mouthwash in powerful but gentle bursts, cleaning thoroughly between teeth and along the gum line.
Using an electric toothbrush and flosser regularly can help to reduce staining and keep teeth and gums healthy, even as you age. That’s even more true if you have difficulties with movement in your arms or hands, or any other condition that makes proper manual cleaning difficult.
So while you will notice changes in your mouth as you get older, the good news is that thorough oral hygiene can make a huge difference. Our teeth and gums can last a lifetime, if we give them the same level of care and attention we happily lavish on our skin, hair, and other parts of our ageing bodies.