Dental Care for Older Adults: 101

Your needs change as you age. Dental care is no exception. As you age, your risk factors increase for many medical issues, like cancer, osteoporosis and mental clarity. Along with your body, changes also occur in the mouth.

• Dry mouth: It may occur with hormonal changes or as a medication side effect. Dry mouth can increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease, fungal infections, difficulty speaking/eating or issues wearing dentures.

• Attrition: This is a natural erosion of tooth enamel from years of using your teeth for eating, or it can develop over a lifetime with habits like tooth grinding. It can increase the risk of tooth decay.

• Tooth discoloration: Naturally occurring attrition can account for some discoloration and changes to the dentin inside the teeth. Teeth may also appear stained due to food, drink and tobacco usage.

• Diseases: The risk of developing thrush (fungal infection) and oral cancers increases with age.

• Gum recession: Gums may naturally recede with age. This exposes more of the tooth root, which increases the risk of developing cavities on the roots of your teeth.

• Reduced sense of taste: This can be caused by medications or dentures.

• Gum disease: Plaque buildup is the most common cause of gum disease. You may be more likely to develop gum disease if you have diabetes or cancer.

• Jaw misalignment: When teeth are lost or extracted and the gaps are not filled with a partial, bridge or implant, the remaining teeth drift. This leads to misalignment.

• Bone density loss: The risk of osteoporosis increases with age, especially post-menopause. Decreased bone density may cause teeth to become loose.

What can be done to maintain oral health?

Regardless of age, specific habits can help to maintain good oral hygiene:

• Brush with fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes, twice a day.

• Floss at least once daily. Use a floss holder, floss pick or other tools recommended by your dentist if you have difficulties flossing with your hands.

• Visit the dentist regularly. Visits should be every six months, unless otherwise directed by the dentist.

• Eat a balanced diet.

• Avoid all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vaping.

• Stay hydrated. Drinking water regularly throughout the day can help combat dry mouth.

• Use topical fluoride products. In addition to drinking fluoridated water, use an ADA-approved fluoridated toothpaste and/or mouthwash if advised by your dentist. Fluoride helps prevent decay by re-mineralizing tooth enamel that has been weakened due to naturally occurring acids in the mouth.

• Use an antibacterial mouthwash. This will help kill bacteria in the mouth, reducing plaque buildup.

Dentures and partials

False teeth, like dentures or partials, require some special care to maintain good overall and oral health.

For example:

• Dentures should be left out of the mouth for at least six hours per day.

• Avoid letting the denture/partial dry out by soaking it in warm (not hot!) water and/or a denture cleaning product overnight.

• Allow any gum sores to heal before putting the denture/partial back in your mouth.

Those who wear dentures or partials should also:

• Clean the denture/partial daily, rinsing away food particles and gently brushing all surfaces of the denture/partial with a special denture brush or soft-bristled toothbrush.

• Gently brush your teeth, gums, tongue and roof of your mouth before putting in the denture/partial.

• Regularly visit the dentist for exams to address or adjust anything, like ill-fitting dentures/partials or to replace the denture/partial as needed (about every five years).

Dental care and arthritis

Individuals diagnosed with arthritis may find dental care particularly challenging. Specially designed toothbrushes, floss holders and other dental products can be helpful if you have trouble gripping or holding standard handles. You can also try wrapping the handle of a manual toothbrush with a sponge or push the handle through a foam ball to help improve your grip.

Electric toothbrushes can also be helpful because their handles tend to be thicker and easier to grip. They do most of the brushing for you and can be beneficial if you have limited shoulder mobility.

Oral care and insurance

If you are planning on visiting a new dentist, speak with someone at the office to request any forms that could be helpful for you to complete in advance. Request any X-rays from your previous dentist to be transferred to the new office.

You may also wish to confirm with BCBS FEP Dental that your new dentist is in-network to ensure that the maximum insurance benefit will be paid for your services. Additionally, it is recommended that you verify your benefits prior to starting any planned dental work to ensure coverage.

When you arrive at the dental office, provide them with copies of both your medical and dental insurance member ID cards.

Note: The information in this document is not meant to replace the advice of your dentist or another licensed healthcare professional. Talk to your dentist for any specific dental advice.