Timeless December/January 2021 | Page 23

“ I focus a lot of my attention on helping my patients maintain their teeth . It is not an uncommon thing . The majority of our population will have some form of periodontal disease as they age ” Dr . J . Eric Herrington
then that can keep you from having more expensive treatment later ,” he said .
For example , if a general dentist notices a small cavity on an x-ray , it is more economical and easier to fix that cavity with a small filling versus leaving it untreated .
“ Then , we have to talk about losing teeth and replacing teeth and that can lead to bigger dental bills ,” he added .
The next step is to brush with a fluoride toothpaste two or three times a day .
“ We are big fans of using mechanical toothbrushes , such as those made by Sonicare , Oral-B or Braun , instead of the standard traditional toothbrush ,” Herrington said . “ These mechanical toothbrushes can make the home care a lot more efficient .”
Equally important to brushing your teeth is to floss your teeth at least twice a day , he added . Interdental brushes or flossers work great for seniors who have dexterity issues .
“ Sometimes our 85-year-olds are not efficient at getting out a tiny piece of floss and manipulating it around the post of their teeth ,” he noted . “ A lot of times we recommend interproximal brushes that make it a lot easier for our senior patients to clean their teeth .”
For seniors who take a lot of medications that interfere with saliva production and cause dry mouth , prescription rinses with a high concentration of fluoride are an option . Also , Biotene makes an over-the-counter dry mouth oral rinse that can help with the symptoms , he noted .
“ One of the things that we battle often is that patients are taking more and more medications that cause their salivary production to diminish , and as a result of those medications , their teeth become more susceptible to forming decay ,” he said .
Eating healthier foods and taking a daily multivitamin with a sufficient dose of Vitamin C also are important to good dental care .
“ The biggest thing we battle in our senior population and their diet is their tendency to consume too much refined sugar ,” he said .
Studies have shown that the consumption of refined sugar contributes to tooth decay .
“ You already have a patient that has poor saliva production both in quality and quantity , and that patient wants to drink sweetened tea all day long ,” Herrington noted . “ It makes it difficult for us to maintain the dentition and keep them free from having dental decay .”
Having missing teeth and wearing dentures can affect a person ’ s nutrition because they may have difficulty eating fresh fruits and vegetables .
“ If someone has a complete denture , then their chewing capacity is reduced almost 90 % from someone that has a natural dentition ,” Herrington said . “ That ’ s a pretty significant drop-off of your ability to properly chew and masticate your food . That is why there are many benefits to trying to maintain your natural dentition .”
Alternatives to traditional dentures , such as dental implants , can help older adults retain their ability to chew better , he said .
Dental implants are metal , screwlike posts that are surgically implanted to replace damaged or missing teeth with customized crowns , or artificial teeth , that look and function like natural teeth .
“ There are a lot of alternatives out there if someone is unhappy with their denture that they can consider in the world of dental implants . They just need to talk to their dentist about the options ,” he said .
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Discoloration of their teeth also can make adults over 50 more self-conscious about their smile but is something that is easily remedied through the safe use of teeth whitening products .
“ Typically , discoloration of the teeth as we get older is usually an accumulative effect , but it is something that can be turned around ,” he said . “ The teeth of someone 75 can benefit from dental whitening just as much as if you are the age of 18 .”
If someone over age 50 is unhappy with their smile , there are several things either restoratively or with tooth whitening techniques that can change that , Herrington said .
“ There is no reason to think ‘ Oh , because I am over the age of 50 , I shouldn ’ t do all that ,’” he said . “ You can still have a beautiful smile over the age of 50 .” T

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