Common Dental Conditions in Adults over 60

Gum disease is one of the most common diseases that affects adults over the age of 60 in Australia and the world at large. It is estimated that a third of people who have attained the age of 60 will suffer gum disease at some point. Gum disease is defined as a bacterial infection that is caused due to the bacterial accumulation of dental plaque on the teeth. If you are suffering from gum disease, your gums may bleed while you are brushing and you may suffer from bad breath. Two types of gum disease include gingivitis and Periodontitis.

– Gingivitis

Gingivitis is an early sign of gum disease where the patient’s gums become swollen, and red and bleed easily. Gingivitis is caused by the build-up of dental plaque. It mostly affects the surface layer of the tooth, particularly where the tooth meets the gum. At this stage, this condition can be reversed since the connective tissues, and the bone that holds the teeth in position are not yet infected.

– Periodontitis

If gingivitis is not treated, it may progress to a more severe form of gum disease known as periodontitis. A periodontal disease also known as periodontitis is the inflammation of tissues that surrounds a tooth and affects the gums. In severe form of periodontitis, it can result in the loss of bone that supports the tooth. This results in the tooth becoming loose or even worse causing tooth loss. The loss of bone and the supporting structures can result in the formation of pockets between the tooth and the gum. The depth of the pocket depicts the severity of the destructive process. In adults over the age of 60, the depth of the pocket can go up to 4+ mm. This pocket traps more plaque that cannot be reached using a toothbrush. With time this tartar and plaque will build up causing further irritation.

Signs of Periodontitis Include:

– Swollen gums
– Bleeding gums
– Persistent bad breath
– Pus between the gum and the tooth
– Tenderness when biting
– Receding gums- This is where the gum line shrinks away from the tooth thus making the teeth look longer
– A bad taste in the mouth

In the event that you notice any of the symptoms above, make an appointment with your dentist. A dentist can be able to remove hardened tartar and plaque and walk you through how to provide proper care to your teeth. Seek the advice of a dentist you find that you cannot clean your teeth properly due to dentures or due to irregularities on your teeth. It is important to keep the surfaces of your gum and teeth clean to prevent gum disease.

Factors that you Risk of Gum Disease include:

Smoking

Smoking reduces the amount of oxygen in the blood that reaches the tissues. It also weakens your body’s immune system making it difficult to fight infections. In addition, smokers have more plaque compared to non-smokers, and this makes them more prone to gum disease. Statistics have it that smoking causes around a third of all gum disease in Australia.

Diabetes

Diabetes is another major factor that causes gum disease in adults over the age of 60. It reduces your body’s resistance to all infections including oral infections.

Ethnic Background and Genetic Susceptibility

Other people appear to be more prone to gum disease than others due to their ethnic background and genetic susceptibility. This could be due to differences in diet between different cultures.

It is important to remember that the more gum disease stays untreated, the more serious it becomes. So it is important to visit your dentist as soon as you notice any early signs of the disease. Also, clean your gums and teeth daily by brushing and flossing gently.

Tooth decay is perhaps one of the most common dental conditions experienced by people over the age of 60. Tooth decay is a deteriorating dental condition that results from the breakdown of tooth enamel. The destruction of the tooth enamel can lead to holes forming on the surface of the teeth more commonly referred to as cavities. Tooth decay is often caused by oral hygiene practices and dietary choices. Most of the food that we consume contains lots of sugar and starch. When these foods are left on the surface of the teeth, a sticky substance known as plaque combines with the bacteria that live in the mouth. This combination produces an acidic substance that damages the tooth enamel leading to decay. If cavities are left untreated, they can grow larger affecting the deeper layers of your teeth.

Symptoms of Tooth Decay

Tooth decay may not be painful, but if you have dental carries you may experience the following:

Toothache

A toothache can be either a continuous pain that keeps you awake or an occasional sharp pain without any obvious cause.

Tooth Sensitivity

You may feel pain or tenderness when drinking or eating something cold, hot, or sweet.

– Bad breath
– Grey, black, or brown spots appearing on your teeth
– Tooth Sensitivity
– Visible pits or holes in your teeth
– Pain when you bite down

What Causes Tooth Decay?

Tooth decay causes cavities. This is a process that happens over a period of time. Here is the process by which decay develops.

Plaque Forms

Dental plaque is a clear sticky substance that forms on the surface of your teeth. It forms due to the eating of sugars and starch and not properly cleaning your teeth. When you fail to clean sugars and starch properly, bacteria immediately start feeding on them and form plaque. Plaque that if not removed can harden under your gum line forming tartar. Tartar is more difficult to remove and forms a shield of bacteria.

Plaque Attacks

The acid in plaque begins to erode the tooth enamel and removes minerals from it. This erosion causes the tinny opening to appear on the surface of the tooth- this is the first stage of cavities. Once the enamel is worn out, the bacteria can now properly access the inner part of your teeth called the dentin. Dentin is softer compared to the enamel and less resistant to acid.

Destruction continues

As tooth decay continues to develop, the acid and bacteria continue to march through the teeth moving to the pulp. The pulp is the area that contains the blood vessels and the nerves. Once the bacteria attack the pulp, it expands and causes pain. This discomfort can even be extended to the outside part of the tooth which includes the bone.

Risk Factors of Tooth Decay

Location of The Tooth

Tooth decay mostly affects teeth at the back of your mouth (molars and premolars). These teeth have a lot of pits and crannies, grooves and multiple roots that can easily collect food particles. This makes it harder to keep them clean than the front teeth.

Inadequate Brushing and Flossing

If you fail to clean and floss your teeth immediately after eating, plaque will quickly form, and the first stage of cavity formation will start.

Age

Older people are more vulnerable to tooth decay. Teeth can wear down, and the gums become recede depending on a person’s age. This makes the teeth more vulnerable to tooth decay. Moreover, older people can be using some medication that reduces their saliva flow hence increasing their chances of tooth decay.

What is Oral Cancer?

Oral cancer is one of the several types of cancer under a category called head and neck cancers. Oral cancer represents between 3 to 4% of all the cancers diagnosed in Australia annually. Most people diagnosed with this type of cancer are over the age of 60, and it affects mostly men than women. Oral cancer includes cancer of the tongue, lips, cheeks, hard palate, floor of the mouth, gums, and minor salivary glands.

What are the Possible Signs and Symptoms of Oral Cancer?

– Mouth sores or ulcers that do not heal within several weeks
– White or red patches on the lining of the mouth or tongue
– Persistent numbness or odd feeling on lip and tongue
– Looseness of teeth or sockets that do not heal after extractions
– Persistent lumps in the neck and mouth that do not go away
– Pain in one ear without hearing loss
– Difficulty chewing or swallowing
– Swelling of the jaw that results in losing fitting of the dentures hence becoming uncomfortable
– Difficulty moving the jaw or tongue

Anyone experiencing any of these signs and symptoms for more than two weeks is advised to visit a dentist for an oral cancer examination. Mostly, the symptoms listed above do not necessarily mean cancer. An oral infection or any other problem can cause the same signs and symptoms. However, it is essential to have the symptoms checked out because if it’s oral cancer, then it can be treated more effectively if it is identified early.

What are the Causes of Oral Cancer?

Although doctors do not fully understand the exact cause of oral cancer, certain lifestyle factors can increase your risk for the development of this disease. Most cases of oral cancer are linked to alcohol and tobacco. Cigar, pipe, and cigarette smoking are the popular forms of tobacco use in most parts of the world. Nevertheless, the old habits of some cultures of chewing tobacco, gutkha, paan and betel quid are particularly harmful. People who take alcohol are more likely to develop oral cancer than people who don’t. This risk increases even more if the person takes alcohol and smokes tobacco. Over-exposure to sunlight can cause cancer of the lip. Use of a lip balm or lotion that contains some sunscreen can minimize the risk. Putting on a hat with a brim can also reduce exposure to sun’s harmful rays. Recent studies have also linked oral cancer to human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is the major cause of cervical cancer; it affects the skin that lines moist body areas. HPV can spread through oral sex and research suggests that HPV will soon rival drinking and smoking as one of the major causes of oral cancer.

How is Oral Cancer Diagnosed?

During your routine dental examinations, your dentist will conduct an oral cancer screening check-up. He/she will feel for any irregular tissue changes or lumps in your neck, face, head, and oral cavity. The dentist will also look for any discolored tissues or sores as well as check for any of the symptoms listed above. A biopsy will be needed to determine the makeup of a suspicious-looking area. There are several different types of biopsies, and your dentist will determine which is best for you.

How is Oral Cancer Treated?

There are three main treatment options for oral cancer:

– Surgery; Here the cancerous cells are surgically removed along with tiny bits of surrounding normal cells or tissue to ensure cancer is completely removed.

– Radiotherapy; Here high-energy x-rays are used to kill the cancerous cells.

– Chemotherapy; Powerful medications are used to kill cancerous cells.

Tooth loss is normal with young children though for children the teeth grow back at some point. However, losing a tooth during adult life is unfavorable since it is less likely that it will grow back. There are so many reasons why adults over the age of 60 can lose a tooth. These reasons include:

Poor Oral Hygiene

If you fail to brush and floss your teeth on a daily basis, gum disease and cavities may occur making tooth loss more likely to happen. Dentists recommend that you brush at least twice a day. It is also advisable that you visit your dentist at least twice a month.

Poor Nutrition

Food that contains lots of sugar, acid, and carbohydrates can damage your teeth and gums. Such foods can initiate tooth decay.

Poor Habits

Poor habits such as tooth grinding use your teeth over the years and make them shorter. Individuals who grind strongly can cause the teeth to fracture. Chewing or smoking tobacco can also worsen gum disease which leads to tooth loss.

Teeth discoloration is another very common dental condition that affects older people.

Reasons Why Teeth Darken and Discolor

Tobacco Products

Smoking and chewing of tobacco products stain your teeth. Make a choice now to quit smoking not just for your oral health but also your overall well-being.

Excessive fluoride

Fluoride is an essential tooth protector when used in small doses. It can easily discolor your teeth when used in high doses. Excess exposure may come from high amounts of fluoride in the local water supply or excessive use of fluoride rinses, supplements, and toothpaste.

Drinks

Drinks such as coffee, soda, tea, wine, and acidic fruit juice are known to stain teeth.

Poor Oral Hygiene

Failing to brush or floss gives the stain-producing substances from certain beverages and tobacco ample time to stain your teeth. Also, rinsing with a mouthwash that contains cetyl pyridinium or chlorhexidine may result in discoloring.

Disease

Some diseases may affect the tooth enamel or dentin leading to discoloration. Some medications such as chemotherapy and radiation of the head and neck affect tooth color.

Old Age

The outer surface of enamel naturally wears away as you age exposing the yellow color of dentin.

Dental Restorations Materials

Metal amalgam fillings discolor the tooth they fill. They cast a gray color across the rest of your teeth especially when the filling contains silver sulfide.

Medications

Doxycycline and tetracycline are antibiotics that may discolor your teeth. Certain antihypertensive, antihistamines medications, and antipsychotic drugs can stain teeth.

Trauma

Hitting your mouth may disrupt blood flow to a certain tooth causing it to die and become gray.

Dry mouth is a surprisingly common condition that has a devastating effect not only on sufferers’ dentitions but also on their day-to-day lives. Dry mouth also referred to as xerostomia is a condition that results from the decreased volume of saliva in the mouth. Xerostomia is often due to the side effects of medications, aging issues, or effects of radiation therapy for cancer. It is common in older persons affecting around one in five elderly individuals. A dry mouth can make speaking, eating, and digesting food difficult, which can lead to malnutrition. Extreme xerostomia and salivary gland dysfunction can cause significant anxiety, and permanent throat and mouth disorders which can impair someone’s quality of life.

What are the Symptoms of a Dry Mouth?

– Hoarseness, dry nasal passages, sore throat
– Difficulty speaking, tasting, chewing and swallowing
– Dry, red, and raw tongue
– Sores in the mouth, cracked lips, and split skin at the corners of the mouth
– Burning or tingling sensation in the mouth, especially on the tongue
– Frequent thirst
– Sticky, dry feeling in the mouth
– Bad breath

What can Cause a Dry Mouth?

There are several causes of dry mouth. Dry mouth commonly occurs as a side effect of medications that leads to decreased saliva production including antihistamines, high blood pressure medications, antidepressants, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, diuretics, narcotics, and many others. Other causes of dry mouth include dehydration, removal of salivary glands, smoking, and radiation treatments to treat cancerous tumors of the head and neck, diabetes, use of tobacco products, salivary gland diseases, hormonal imbalances, sleep apnea, mouth breathing, mumps, autoimmune disorders, and cystic fibrosis.

How is Dry Mouth Treated?

If you suspect your dry mouth results from a certain medication, you are taking then talk to your doctor. He/she may adjust your dose or switch you to a different medicine that does not cause dry mouth. The doctor can also prescribe an oral rinse to bring back mouth moisture. If this does not help your doctor may prescribe a medication to boost saliva production.

The following steps may also help improve saliva flow:

– Drink plenty of water to keep your mouth moist.
– Suck on sugar-free candy or chew sugar-free gum.
– Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, use a fluoride rinse, and visit the dentist regularly.
– Use a room vaporizer to add moisture to your bedroom air.
– Breathe through your nose, not your mouth.
– Use an over-the-counter artificial saliva substitute.

The taste buds become less sensitive with aging. Older people over the age of 60 might find their food tasteless. As a result, they may choose to add more seasoning (particularly salt which is harmful to some people) to add taste. They may also desire to take extremely hot or cold foods which may burn the gums. Also, older people may be taking some medical drugs which may affect their ability to taste. Such disorders may include gum disease, mouth cancer, and nose or sinuses. Aged people who are experiencing such conditions are advised to visit the dentist. A dentist can recommend some measures that one should take and improve the sensitivity of their taste buds.

The taste buds become less sensitive with aging. Older people over the age of 60 might find their food tasteless. As a result, they may choose to add more seasoning (particularly salt which is harmful to some people) to add taste. They may also desire to take extremely hot or cold foods which may burn the gums. Also, older people may be taking some medical drugs which may affect their ability to taste. Such disorders may include gum disease, mouth cancer, and nose or sinuses. Aged people who are experiencing such conditions are advised to visit the dentist. A dentist can recommend some measures that one should take and improve the sensitivity of their taste buds.

Tooth sensitivity is another common condition experienced by older people. It’s experienced as a painful sensation in the teeth that often occurs after drinking or eating hot, cold, or acidic foods. The main reason for this is that the dentine normally is covered by the enamel though after some time the enamel starts wearing out. This provides less protection to the dentine from external stimulation. In addition, gum can recede with age hence exposing the underlying root surface dentine. The dentine does contain many pores that run from the outer part of the tooth to the nerve center. When the dentine is exposed, these pores can be easily stimulated by changes in temperature or by consuming certain foods.

What Causes Tooth Sensitivity?

– Drinking acidic beverages such as soda
– A chipped or fractured that exposes the enamel
– Brushing with an abrasive toothpaste or brushing more than three times a day incorrectly
– Tooth grinding

To prevent tooth sensitivity from occurring, visit your dentist for suggestions on how you can maintain proper oral health. Brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Avoid harsh or abrasive toothpaste. You might also consider limiting some acidic foods and beverages such as citric fruits and carbonated drinks.

Oral health problems for people over 60 years make it difficult for them to enjoy a healthy diet. As such, it is important to maintain the right oral hygiene measures on a regular basis. Get regular dental check-ups at least twice a year, do not wait until you experience some pain for you to do it. As you age, the nerve present in your tooth becomes smaller and less sensitive so by the time you feel some pain, it may be too late for you to save your tooth. Through regular dental check-ups, your dentist will also be able to detect the occurrence of other serious oral conditions such as oral cancer.