As we age, so do our mouths. Even if you take excellent care of your teeth, your teeth and gums will undergo certain changes as you get older. Also, as you get older, you are more likely to take medicines or have a disease that can affect your oral health. Here are some of the changes you might notice as you age.

Tooth Changes

Chewing, cleaning and normal life will cause your teeth to wear down over time. People who clench or grind their teeth may have more tooth wear than other people.

You may notice that your teeth look darker as you age. That’s because aging dentin — the tooth’s middle layer — holds stains easier.

Many older people have more plaque buildup on their teeth. This is not because of their age. It’s related to other physical changes that can make it more difficult to brush and floss every day. For example, people with arthritis or neurological problems may not be able to clean their teeth as well. Or they may forget to do it.

Changes to Gums

Your gums naturally recede over time. If the roots of your teeth are exposed, your teeth can become sensitive. Fluoride rinses can decrease this sensitivity. They also can help to prevent decay on the roots.

General Oral Changes

Some oral changes are not caused by aging. Rather, they are side effects of medicines or other diseases. For example, many drugs and some diseases of the body cause changes in the way things taste. Taste changes can lead to nutritional problems. If food becomes less attractive, people may not eat a balanced diet.

Dry mouth is very common in older people. It is usually a side effect of medicine. Hundreds of medicines can cause dry mouth.

Saliva normally washes away bits of food and bacteria and helps keep your mouth clean. If you have dry mouth, the bacteria and food will stay around longer. This means they are more likely to cause decay.

Over-the-counter fluoride rinses can help protect your teeth from decay. You can moisten your mouth using artificial saliva. Other options are to drink lots of water or sucking on sugarless lemon drops.

source: Aetna dental plan