Common Dental Concerns for Aging Parents: How to Address Them with Compassion

As your parents age, their health gets affected, especially their oral health, as they can face many new dental problems that they never had. It is important to address these issues with sensitivity and emotion.

If you are looking for a dentist in Pleasanton, then contact a professional like a family dentist in Pleasanton, CA. They can give you proper guidance on how to manage age-related dental problems and provide you with the best dental care routine based on your lifestyle and needs.

Read this article to learn more about some of the main dental problems that aging adults face. You can deal with them and make sure that your loved ones feel cared for and valued, as this is also new to them and can be very hard to deal with.

Gum Disease and Receding Gums

Gum disease or periodontal disease becomes very common as you age, which can cause receding gums, increased tooth sensitivity, and even tooth loss in some cases if it is not treated at the right time. It is important to look out for signs as this can help in stopping things from getting bad and maintain good oral health.

Understanding Gum Disease in Older Adults

The start of gum disease is from inflammation that is caused by the building up of plaque on your teeth. This starts with gingivitis and can turn into periodontitis if it is not treated at the right time. The gums of older adults can easily get inflamed and infected. 

Signs of Gum Recession

Receding gums can cause many things like sensitivity, bleeding, discomfort, etc. If your parent mentions having pain while they were brushing, then look out for it, as it can be a sign of a developing human health issue.

Once gums have receded, the roots of your teeth are exposed, which can cause sensitivity. Even after they are not treated then, this can lead to tooth loss. 

How to Approach This Concern

Firstly, be compassionate and supportive. Talk to them nicely regarding this issue, as older adults can feel self-conscious about discussing their health problems. Ask them to visit a dentist to do their dental checkup and get the needed treatment, which can then help keep their gum disease-free and improve comfort.

Tooth Decay and Tooth Loss

Tooth decay and tooth loss become more common as people age because of many factors like dry mouth, gum recession, and wear and tear over the years. A missing or decayed tooth is not only going to affect eating and speaking, but it can also affect their self-esteem.

Causes of Tooth Decay in Seniors

There are many medications that older adults take that can reduce the production of saliva and increase the risk of cavities and tooth decay. Years of wear can also make enamel weak and vulnerable to decay, especially if they do not brush daily. 

Effects of Missing Teeth on Daily Life

Eating can also become hard for seniors as chewing gets affected, which can cause changes in diet and impact their nutrition. Tooth loss can affect how older adults feel about their appearance and comfort when they speak or smile. 

Dry Mouth (Xerostomia): Comforting Solutions for This Common Issue

Dry mouth is also a very common issue in aging adults because of the medicines that they take or natural changes in their saliva production. Even though it looks like a small problem, dry mouth can increase the risk of decay and affect their comfort. 

Understanding the Causes of Dry Mouth

Many medicines used by seniors for blood pressure, depression, and anxiety can reduce their saliva flow. Also, as they age, their saliva glands also change, which can be the reason for less saliva production. 

Effects of Dry Mouth on Oral Health

Saliva helps in washing off all the food particles and bacteria. If there is not enough saliva production in your mouth, then this can increase the risk of decay. A dry mouth can also cause discomfort, cracked lips, and a sore throat, which can make it hard to eat and speak. 

Compassionate Solutions for Dealing With Dry Mouth

Always take care of how much water your parents are taking and remind them to drink water throughout the day to help them keep their mouths moist. Over-the-counter saliva substitutes and mouth moisturizers can give relief and help in reducing discomfort. 

Ask them not to consume caffeine and alcohol as they can make the dryness worse, and suggest sugar-free gum or candies to increase saliva production. 

Contact A Professional Today!

Good oral health is important at any age. Take care of your aging parents and schedule an appointment for them with a dentist today to make sure that all of their age-related problems are addressed by a professional so that they can have a healthy and confident smile.