Toothache, tooth loss in the elderly

Elderly people lose their teeth, losing teeth from one to many or the whole jaw is a common phenomenon. Is there any way to overcome and limit tooth loss in the elderly?

Like many other organs and organs inside the body, teeth are also affected by the aging process. As you age, your immune system declines, which affects your oral health.
Basically, teeth have the same structure and nature as bones. Therefore, osteoporosis in the elderly is also a cause of tooth loss. In addition to age, poor oral hygiene at a young age also causes oral health problems in old age. Together with the weakened immune system, it creates conditions for bacteria to attack causing mouth disease and toothache.
Poor oral hygiene is also the main cause of oral diseases such as periodontitis, tooth decay, gingivitis, ... If left untreated, the final result is tooth loss and tooth loss in the elderly. .
Another cause equally affecting oral health in the elderly is difficult living conditions, calcium deficiency nutrition, especially women. In middle age and later, women often suffer from calcium deficiency, leading to osteoporosis, which will make teeth weak, damaged and loose. A poor diet also reduces the resistance, creating conditions for bacteria to attack the diseased oral area.

The elderly lose their teeth, causing the face to become crooked, the cheeks sunken in, the facial skin will sag and increase the appearance of wrinkles. If teeth are lost early (in middle age) will affect the aesthetics of the face, making the face look older.
Loss of teeth also causes jaw bone loss because there is no longer chewing force acting on teeth, reducing jaw bone density. Losing more teeth over a long period of time will destroy the jawbone, which is the bone that supports the gum tissue as well as the soft tissue on the face, causing gum recession.
Losing teeth causes poor eating, food is difficult to digest, the body lacks essential nutrients. Due to the space of the missing teeth, it creates conditions for the remaining teeth to move against each other, causing misalignment of the bite. This is also the cause of jaw pain, TMJ dysfunction, pain in the temples, ...

Although tooth loss in the elderly is a completely normal phenomenon of the aging process, however, by taking good care of your teeth, eating well and promptly detecting tooth problems for treatment will help prolong the life of teeth and limit oral diseases in the elderly, specifically:
Eat adequate and appropriate nutrition: When old, the need for food in the elderly often decreases, eating is not appetite, leading to anorexia, not eating enough. Therefore, the elderly need to pay attention to provide adequate protein from meat, fish, eggs, milk, ... vitamins and minerals, but should limit fat from animals. Increasing vegetables, fruits and soy sauce is a way to supplement vitamins and minerals for the body, and help clean teeth after meals. Thorough oral hygiene: Regardless of whether there are many teeth or few teeth, missing teeth or teeth, elderly people need to pay attention to oral hygiene, brush their teeth properly twice a day and rinse their mouth after main meals. and sub. Avoid using toothpicks to pick up food because it can damage the gums, instead use dental floss to remove food stuck between the teeth. Monitor oral health by regular dental check-ups: Oral health in the elderly is a matter of concern and attention. Periodic dental visits about 3 - 6 months / time will help early detection of common oral diseases such as periodontal disease, tooth decay, tartar, ... to treat and prolong the life of teeth. Restoring teeth when necessary: ​​In case of tooth loss, elderly people should restore teeth, avoid prolonged tooth loss that can cause teeth to be displaced, leading to disturbed bite, uneven teeth , affecting chewing and digestive function. After restoring teeth with dentures, the elderly need to pay attention to clean dentures thoroughly and properly according to the instructions of the dentist. Tooth loss, tooth loss in the elderly is the result of the aging process and many other problems related to oral health. Today, high-tech and modern dentistry can help restore teeth for elderly people who have lost teeth. Along with a nutritious diet and thorough oral hygiene will help prolong the life of teeth.
Dentistry - Jaw - Facial - Vinmec International General Hospital is now a prestigious address for examination, when the hospital has modern equipment and machinery imported in the world and a dedicated team of doctors and nurses. Having experience and expertise will help you not to worry about dental diseases at any age.