Maintaining good dental health to prevent the development of dental diseases and problems is vital at all stages in life. However, it is also essential to recognize which dental problems are likely to arise during each stage of life. There is an increased risk for specific dental issues as we age. You will need to partner with a trusted Henderson NV dentist to prevent and fix them.

Which dental issues pose the most significant risk for senior-age patients?

1. Dry Mouth- when there is a lack of sufficient salivary flow, your risk for tooth decay, digestive problems, and oral infections can dramatically increase. Even though salivary flow slows with age, it is not the worst factor in dry mouth. Medications pose the greatest threat to salivary flow. Pain relievers, antihistamines (allergy medications), blood pressure, and cholesterol medications are all known for causing dry mouth in patients. Those are just a few examples that can cause dry mouth as a side effect. Well over 400 medications currently list dry mouth as a side effect on their warning labels.
2. Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease) - Tender, swollen, and bleeding gums are the first signs of a dental infection. Gum disease is a chronic infection that can wreak havoc on your immune system, cause pain upon chewing, lead to bad breath, and result in irreversible bone loss and tooth loss. Senior citizens are vulnerable to gum disease due to weakened immunity and decreased agility to remove plaque bacteria properly.
3. Tooth loss- Years of untreated gum disease, neglected dental treatment, old broken down dental restorations, and poor systemic health can cause your risk for tooth loss to increase.

What can senior-aged patients do to prevent these dental issues?

1. Ask your physician if dry mouth is a side-effect of your prescribed medications. If yes, ask your dentist about using saliva substitutes to counteract dry mouth symptoms.
2. Limit your intake of sugars and carbohydrates. Tooth decay incidence can be decreased with proper diet and dental hygiene maintenance.
3. Make time for dental hygiene at least 2x daily. Be diligent about dental hygiene after each meal and before bed. Ask your dentist about prescription fluoride products, electric toothbrushes, and dental floss holders for better control of your dental hygiene.

Set up regular periodic dental checkups. As you age, you may need to see a Henderson dentist 3-4 times yearly for dental health maintenance.

Contact Marielaina Perrone DDS

Contact Marielaina Perrone DDS at (702) 458-2929 to schedule a no-cost implant dentistry consultation appointment if you are ready for a smile makeover or dental implants in Las Vegas NV.

We cannot wait to help you with your smile makeover to create the smile of your dreams in Summerlin, Henderson, and Las Vegas, NV.