Dental experts reveal 6 essential tips to prevent tooth loss in aging adults

Some whitethorn presume that losing teeth is conscionable portion of increasing older. 

Around 11% of adults betwixt the ages of 65 and 74 person mislaid each of their teeth, according to 2020 information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — and that fig rises to 1 successful 5 astatine property 75 and older.

But according to experts, this isn’t inevitable. Dental professionals shared the pursuing tips to forestall bony nonaccomplishment and boost wide health.

1. Protect gum health

About 2 successful 3 adults implicit property 65 are dealing with immoderate signifier of gum disease, according to a precocious published AARP report.

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Clinical experts cited successful the report, including Dr. Uchenna Akosa, adjunct prof and manager astatine Rutgers Health University Dental Associates successful New Jersey, pass that bleeding gums tin awesome a overmuch deeper problem. 

"Even if you person not mislaid immoderate teeth, gum illness impairs your quality to chew hard food," Akosa told AARP. "That volition affect your nutrition and tin enactment you astatine hazard of malnutrition successful the future."

If your gums bleed erstwhile brushing, oregon if you announcement sensitivity oregon recession, those are signs to docket a dental visit.  (iStock)

Left untreated, gum illness tin besides destruct the bones that clasp teeth successful spot and whitethorn interfere with nutrition and chewing.

Gum illness is besides a root of chronic inflammation successful the body, which tin lend to dementia risk, studies person shown. A meta-analysis of astir 34,000 radical recovered that older adults who had mislaid each of their teeth had a 1.4 times greater hazard of processing dementia, arsenic cited by AARP.

The work besides points to erstwhile probe linking gum illness to different wellness risks, specified arsenic heart attack, changeable and cancer.

Around 11% of adults betwixt the ages of 65 and 74 person mislaid each of their teeth.

Experts urge focusing connected aboriginal prevention. If your gums bleed erstwhile brushing, oregon if you announcement sensitivity oregon recession, those are signs to docket a dental visit. 

Regular nonrecreational cleanings and checkups tin drawback gum problems earlier they pb to bony nonaccomplishment oregon different wellness effects.

People who had mislaid each of their teeth had a 1.4 times greater hazard of processing dementia, according to the AARP. (iStock)

AARP reports that switching to an electrical toothbrush, brushing doubly regular for 2 minutes and utilizing a h2o flosser are each effectual ways to support gum health.

Dr. David Frey, a cosmetic dentist astatine Your Perfect Smile successful Beverly Hills, California, said that helium often recommends h2o flossers – peculiarly the Sonic-Fusion by Waterpik – to older patients.

"It’s particularly invaluable for patients with arthritis, constricted mobility oregon occupation utilizing accepted floss," Frey told Fox News Digital.

2. Take steps to forestall adust mouth

Saliva plays an indispensable relation successful neutralizing acids and protecting bony enamel, but adust rima affects astir six successful 10 older adults, according to AARP.

Many communal medications — including antihistamines, antidepressants and humor unit drugs — tin trim saliva production, making the rima much prone to bony decay, corruption and gum disease, WebMD states.

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To forestall adust mouth, AARP recommends sipping h2o regularly, rinsing the rima aft eating, asking your dentist astir prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste, and utilizing adust rima rinses similar Biotene oregon Act.

3. Personalize your dental visits

Contrary to the modular six-month checkup rule, AARP notes that dental attraction schedules should beryllium personalized. 

One doc successful the study noted that there’s "nothing magical astir a six-month checkup" — immoderate radical whitethorn lone request to spell erstwhile a year, portion others, particularly those with chronic conditions, whitethorn request much predominant visits.

The recommended frequence of dental visits is not one-size-fits-all, according to AARP. Some radical whitethorn lone request to spell erstwhile a year, portion others, particularly those with chronic conditions, whitethorn request much predominant visits. (iStock)

Oral wellness issues successful older adults often spell unnoticed, particularly those related to wound alignment, according to Frey.

"Bite-related issues are often an overlooked root of headaches and cervix pain," helium told Fox News Digital. "The nationalist simply hasn’t been informed that tension, misalignment and jaw dysfunction tin manifest successful ways that look unrelated astatine archetypal glance."

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Evaluating wound presumption and jaw wellness tin sometimes uncover the basal causes of chronic discomfort, Frey noted.

"When I harvester 3D imaging with a adjacent exam of the teeth — worn surfaces, tiny fractures and chipping — it often reveals that the muscles astir the caput and cervix aren’t successful harmony with the bite."

4. Explore options for fiscal help

Only 3 successful 10 adults implicit 65 person dental insurance, per the American Dental Association, and Medicare typically doesn’t screen cleanings, fillings oregon different regular procedures.

Many communal medications tin trim saliva production, making the rima much prone to decay, experts say. (iStock)

This fiscal spread often leads radical to skip dental attraction altogether, which tin origin much superior (and expensive) problems successful the future.

AARP suggests looking into dental savings plans, section dental schools oregon sliding-scale assemblage clinics if sum is an issue.

5. Adopt steadfast habits

Smoking is simply a major contributor to bony loss. 

CDC information shows that smokers are up to 3 times much apt to suffer each their teeth than non-smokers. 

CDC information shows that smokers are up to 3 times much apt to suffer each of their teeth than non-smokers. (iStock)

And portion sugary cough drops oregon hard candies whitethorn look harmless, they tin beryllium damaging to bony enamel implicit time, experts warn.

Switching to sugar-free gum oregon candies containing xylitol whitethorn assistance forestall cavities and enactment amended oral health, Akosa told AARP.

6. Restore appearance

One of the biggest misconceptions astir aging and dental wellness is that worn, discolored teeth are thing to simply accept, according to Frey.

"It’s not conscionable astir revitalizing the teeth — it’s astir revitalizing the person."

"A delicate, bladed porcelain veneer tin reconstruct the vitality, colour and signifier your teeth erstwhile had, enhancing your grin and wide appearance," helium told Fox News Digital. 

"And it’s not conscionable cosmetic — it’s astir restoring health, assurance and due function."

AARP reports that switching to an electrical toothbrush, brushing doubly regular for 2 minutes and utilizing a h2o flosser are each effectual ways to support gum health. (iStock)

According to Dr. Frey, "It’s not conscionable astir revitalizing the teeth — it’s astir revitalizing the person."

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For those looking to brighten their smile, Erin Fraundorf, laminitis of BOCA Orthodontic and Whitening Studio successful St. Louis, recommends seeing a dentist earlier trying immoderate whitening treatments, per the AARP report.

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"In-office treatments stay the safest, astir effectual option, portion professional-grade take-home kits and OTC products tin beryllium large for maintenance," Fraundorf said.