THE DENTISTS VIEW
Advice from Dr. Henry Clover, Dental Advisor for Denplan – a trained dentist , Henry regularly offers advice in the UK media including The Mirror, The Mail, Zest, FHM and Metro. www.denplan.co.uk

As we age, teeth and gums will of course suffer from wear and tear, and it’s as you hit your 50s and 60s that real problems can start to show themselves. However, as with all self-care, a good awareness of what to expect and how to minimise the impact will put you in good stead to combat anything that age throws at you!

As Mary has experienced, our mouth, teeth and gums go through changes with age and there’s no substitute for good oral hygiene and regular check-ups. Having a dentist that helps you to deal with these changes before they become a problem will make a real difference to your oral health, as well as your wider health and lifestyle.

What to look out for
• Teeth may darken with age because of changes in dentine (what’s beneath your enamel).
• Plaque may build up much faster.
• Teeth may become more brittle as years of chewing wears down tooth enamel. This makes teeth more sensitive and increases the risk that they might crack or break when chewing normally.
• Gums may start to recede or thin because of years of too forceful tooth brushing or the onset of gum disease such as gingivitis and periodontal disease. Bleeding gums is often an indicator of this and, if left unchecked, will increase the risk of tooth decay.
• Newly sensitive teeth may also indicate the start of gum disease. Gum disease can start without any symptoms, and many people don’t know they have it until damage or secondary symptoms appear. More than half of adults over age 55 have at least a mild case and if left unchecked, bacteria may get into the bloodstream and increase the risk of conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.
• Old fillings may fracture or leak around the edges, allowing decay-causing bacteria to accumulate in the tiny crevices.
• Every 5 hours someone in the UK dies from oral cancer (Source CAUK). Oral cancer tends to occur more frequently in older individuals. It can affect the lips, gum tissues, cheek lining, tongue and the hard or soft palate.
• Mouth dryness is more likely to be a side effect of medication and should be addressed. Saliva is antibacterial and full of minerals that strengthen enamel which protects the mouth and teeth by removing bits of food and decay-causing acid.