We love seniors at our office and as a courtesy to those 70 and above, we give a "senior courtesy" when they are paying their bill. They usually laugh and wonder out loud whether or not it's good to get old. Fortunately, all the senior patients we have are in good health and have kept the majority of their teeth in good working order.  My MIL (mother-in-law) wonders if I'm able to tell if people have "fake teeth" when they are smiling.

"Sure, Mom, after 4 years of dental school.... I can totally tell!"  

"Even if they look really good?" 

"Mom, usually the better they look, the faker they are!" 

So along with the big influx of seniors this week, I find I've been answering a lot of "senior teeth questions" and giving  a lot of "senior teeth advice".  Here's my newest article for Weekly Biz Japanese newspaper on that topic. Read and enjoy!

My Teeth Didn't Use To Look Like This!

There is always good news in the world of teeth! As my patients get older, I’ve noticed that seniors are keeping their teeth longer.  And on average, according to research, the number of teeth they are keeping are also increasing.

Last week, I had taken a close up smile photo of a patient. When we looked at it on the computer screen, she made a face and said, “My teeth didn’t use to look like that! They’re so yellow and the lowers are a lot more crowded.”

The problem with keeping teeth longer is that different problems come up.  It’s even more important to keep regular dental appointments as you get older. In this article I will go over 3 out of the 6 possible problems of aging teeth. In the next article, I will cover the last 3.

First problem is a big one. Cavities…. Yes, cavities and fillings are not only for young people.  These are cavities around older fillings or at the exposed roots of teeth.

The solution?   Fluoride is also not just for young kids.  The benefit of fluoride is that it helps protect teeth…no matter if it’s young teeth or old teeth.  In addition to the fluoride in your toothpaste and in drinking water, your dentist may have you use an additional fluoride rinse or use a prescription toothpaste with a stronger fluoride concentration. 

Dry Mouth, that yucky feeling…  Saliva also helps protect your teeth against decay. With a dry mouth, this exposes your teeth to more decay.   As you age, the saliva production decreases normally but with certain medications, saliva production is decreased even more. 

Drink more water? You can do that. Some of my patients sip water all day long. Others have found it easier to use a saliva substitute or others have enjoyed chewing a sugar-free xylitol gum.

Gum Disease… With red, puffy, painful gums, there is a big chance for the bone underneath to be affected.  Untreated gum disease can sometimes turn into bone loss which will loosen teeth. 

Keeping regular appointments with the hygienist will keep your gums healthy and teeth clean.  The usual “I’ll see you in 6 months” may not apply in your case anymore.  Ask your dentist which interval you should be on…3 months, 4 months or 6 months. 

If you’re young, speak to your parents about these 3 dental issues. If you’re a senior, ask your dentist or hygienist if you have these problems. That’s your homework. Next article, we will have 3 more topics to talk about!