Aging is rarely fun or exciting – the best we can hope is to do it gradually and gracefully. As we gain valuable experience and wisdom over the course of our lifetimes, our bodies also begin to change, and one of the first places those “changes” begin to occur is in our mouths with our teeth and gums. Understanding how these changes affect the health of our teeth and gums is an important first step to mastering your dental health as you age.
One of the most pervasive and damaging misconceptions still held by many Americans in regards to geriatric oral health is the belief that tooth loss is an eventual and inevitable consequence of aging. Although it is true that your mouth will inevitably change as you age, there’s no reason why teeth that are properly maintained can’t last for an entire lifetime! Regularly brushing and flossing your teeth – at least twice daily, and ideally after every meal – is important in all stages of life, but it is especially true as we get older.
The nerves in our mouths can also become smaller, which can in turn make us less sensitive to conditions such as tooth decay. Without regular dental checkups, problems that develop with teeth and gums may be overlooked until they become advanced issues that should no longer be ignored. Worse, overlooked dental issues can have more severe consequences that extend beyond our mouths – research has shown that there may be a direct link between the health of our gums and teeth and chronic diseases that affect us as we age, including Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease and diabetes.
If you have any questions or concerns about your dental health, please contact Dr. Lee Weisbard today.
For over 30 years, Dr. Lee Weisbard, D.D.S., and her team have provided Colorado and beyond with the highest quality dental experience available. And it all grew out of her compassion for others and a love for the dental arts.
She has the skills and committed excellence in cosmetic, general, and dental implant dentistry that brings you the best dental care in Greenwood Village, DTC, Englewood, Cherry Hills, Littleton, and the surrounding cities of Denver. She has received numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious 2018 Colorado Businesswoman of the Year award.