Everything we do with our bodies now will take its toll over the years, and the best example of this is teeth. The less care we give to our teeth will make them go worse faster.
The two biggest problems of aging teeth are by far a bad oral hygiene and the neglect on doing it. The result: senior people have higher tendency to suffer from tooth decay and recurrent decay under old dental restorations. Moreover, many senior adults do not count with dental insurance.
Another aging dental problem is related to diabetes. Around 10 million Americans over 60 years old have it. Diabetics are highly prone to gum inflammation which can spread to the ligaments and bones that support the teeth.
In addition, diabetic patients may have some healing problems after a dental procedure; and dry mouth that leads to the formation of bacteria that cause cavities, plaque and gum infections, is more severe in the elderly due to pharmaceutical side effects.
As you can see, paying more attention and care to your teeth in your younger years can save you many problems and money in the years to come.
Source: RGJ.com
