3 Reasons To Keep Up on Dental Checkups When You're Older

Read time: 3 minutes

If you’ve taken a fingers-crossed approach to your dental health in recent months — or years — and haven’t been seeing a dentist regularly, you might want to rethink that approach.

According to the American Dental Association, here are three reasons to keep up on those regular checkups:

Reason: To prevent gum disease

Many older adults have gum disease, also called periodontal disease. It’s caused by the bacteria in plaque that irritates the gums, making them swollen and more likely to bleed. If left untreated, gums can begin to pull away from the teeth and form pockets where food particles and more plaque can collect. Advanced gum disease can eventually destroy the gums, bones and ligaments supporting the teeth, leading to tooth loss.

One of the biggest reasons gum disease gets away from people is that it’s generally painless until the advanced stage. The good news is that with regular dental visits, gum disease can be treated — or better yet, prevented altogether.

Reason: To reduce the effects of dry mouth — and cavities

Just when you thought cavities were in your rearview mirror, did you know older people can become cavity-prone due to dry mouth? It’s not a normal part of aging, but dry mouth is a side effect in more than 500 medications, including those for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pain and allergies.

Keeping your dentist up to date about all your medications can help him or her recommend ways to relieve your dry mouth and prevent cavities. Common recommendations include:

Oral health care tips for caregivers

Help loved ones keep their mouth clean by reminding them to brush and floss daily. Also, make sure they’re seeing their dentist regularly. If brushing and flossing is difficult for them, talk to a dentist or hygienist for tips or a different approach.

If your loved one wears dentures, help them with the care and cleaning of their mouth and dentures, if they need it. Pay attention to their eating habits. If they’re having trouble eating, denture problems could be the cause.

Drink more water — your mouth needs constant lubrication.
Use sugar-free gum or lozenges to stimulate saliva production.
Avoid beverages and foods that irritate dry mouths: alcohol, carbonated soft drinks, acidic fruit juices and coffee.
Try over-the-counter spray or mouthwash oral moisturizers.
Ask your dentist if your teeth could benefit from an application of a fluoride gel or varnish to protect them from cavities.
Check with your physician to see what might be causing your dry mouth. If it’s medication, perhaps your doctor could recommend a change in medication or dosage.

Reason: To be on the lookout for mouth cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, about 35,000 cases of mouth, throat and tongue cancer are diagnosed every year — and the average age of diagnosis is 62. During regular dental visits, your dentist will check for any signs of early stage oral cancer, early signs you could miss because they typically aren’t painful.

If you notice any symptoms in between your regular checkups (open sores, white or reddish patches, and changes in the lips, tongue and lining of the mouth that lasts for more than two weeks), see your dentist.