The smile ultimately will change and evolve as anyone ages. There is no time when you are able to completely stop taking care of your teeth, because they will constantly be evolving. Your smile changes as you age. Understanding the ways in which your smile will change will allow you to take the appropriate steps to help care for your teeth and keep them in good condition. It is crucial to ensure that you visit your care provider on a regular basis for examinations and to protect the health of your teeth. It may even become necessary to obtain orthodontic treatment as you age and your teeth change.
Wear and Tear
The older your teeth are, the more wear they will ultimately be exposed to. Wear and tear will have a larger impact on your teeth as time goes on. When the enamel layer of your teeth wears down, it will be unable to effectively protect your teeth. You will also be unable to restore the enamel layer after it has worn down. Taking the steps to care appropriately for your teeth will help to minimize wear and tear on your teeth. For example, using fluoride mouthwash can help to remineralize the teeth and prevent the effect of wear and tear on them.
Shifting Teeth
As an individual ages, it is highly likely that their bones will begin to weaken. This is only accelerated when various bones fall out of use. When the upper and lower jaw bones weaken with age, it can cause the teeth to shift. For example, it is extremely common for the bottom teeth to crowd together as the teeth shift. Gaps between the upper teeth are also incredibly common. When the teeth shift, it can lead to an array of additional problems. For example, crooked teeth become much more difficult to clean, which can lead to the accumulation of plaque and bacteria on the teeth. In these situations, it may become necessary to receive high-quality orthodontic treatment to restore your teeth to their previous alignment.
Dry Mouth
As an individual ages, their body will be less capable of efficiently producing saliva. This can lead to an array of problems with the teeth, beyond pure discomfort. When your mouth dries out an excessive amount, it will be less able to flush harmful bacteria and food particles from the surface of the teeth. It will be important to ensure that you drink a lot of water if your body isn’t quite producing enough saliva. This can help to provide the flushing capabilities that your body is no longer capable of doing.
Yellowing of Teeth
The protective enamel layer of the teeth will wear down over time, which will leave the inner dentin layer exposed. This layer is yellow, which means that when it shows through beneath the surface of the enamel layer, the teeth take on a yellow appearance. Teeth whitening procedures are often implemented in order to combat this. However, you should ensure that you regularly visit your dentist to ensure that this is the only problem resulting in the yellowing of your teeth and to devise the ideal solution for this problem. This can go a long way toward protecting your health and the health of your teeth.
Oral Cancer
The risk of oral cancer increases a substantial amount as you age. It is far more likely for an individual to develop oral cancer at this point. Due to this, it is incredibly important to have regular dental visits. This can help to identify the presence of oral cancer in the early stages, when it will be much easier to resolve. It is also important to ensure that you quit smoking or chewing any form of tobacco. These substances will also increase the risk of developing oral cancer. Oral cancer can be incredibly devastating, which is one of the reasons that it is so critical to care for your teeth as you age.
Tooth Loss
Tooth loss is capable of occurring at any point in your life, especially if you aren’t caring appropriately for your teeth. However, the risk of tooth loss tends to be much more common when an individual ages. As the jawbone weakens, it becomes less able to keep the teeth anchored in place. It is crucial to appropriately care for your teeth through any stage in your life. You need to implement a great oral hygiene routine and ensure that you regularly visit your dentist.
Here at Bailey Orthodontics, we offer excellent orthodontic services for individuals of all ages. As an individual ages, it may become necessary to obtain orthodontic treatment, especially if the teeth shift after the jawbone weakens. The appropriate treatment will go a long way toward protecting the health and appearance of the teeth. To learn more about our services and how they can still be implemented for older patients, contact us at Bailey Orthodontics today!
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