How Dental Care Changes As You Age
Teeth change a lot from birth to old age, so why wouldn't the care required to take care of them? There are different needs for teeth, depending on their age. Proper care helps ensure you can keep your teeth strong, healthy, and in your mouth. Here is a guide to help navigate your dental care to have the best teeth possible. Childhood Teeth are formed before birth, but are in the gums. The first teeth typically break through between six months of age and three years old. The front teeth come through first with the molars showing up last. The recommended age to visit the dentist is by age two with cleanings only requiring a wipe with a washcloth and tooth care training products. As teeth start growing and touching, flossing is recommended. As teeth fall out, the spacing becomes an issue for many kids. Braces, regular cleanings, and teaching proper hygiene techniques become a focus on taking care of children's teeth. Permanent teeth start coming in and sealants are highly recommended to keep the molars strong and cavity-free. Teenage years Along with continuing to reinforce proper cleaning habits and braces for straightening, wisdom teeth start emerging. These teeth don't always break
through the gums because they don't always grow straight. Extractions are recommended before they erupt and happens during the mid to late stages of this phase. Early Adulthood As you enter adulthood, teeth start showing wear and tear through the enamel breaking down and bad habits catching up. It's important to focus on good oral hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly, avoiding too many sugary foods, and drinks that stain your teeth. Smoking habits often start during the beginning of adulthood, but this increases your chance of gum disease, bone loss, and discoloration. A common problem that begins in adulthood is neglecting to do your regular dental cleanings and checkups. This can be from a lack of money or interest, but it's very important. Keeping up with cleanings as well as a healthy diet is important to make sure your teeth are getting the required nutrients to stay strong. Middle Age or Mid-Adulthood As life gets busier, good habits fall by the wayside in tooth care. Plaque builds up and gums contract periodontal disease. In fact, this is one of the most common issues for adults in this stage of life. Gum disease contributes to bigger problems like · Bone loss in the jaw · Losing teeth · Heart disease · Stroke · Unpredictable insulin levels Previous dental work also starts breaking down, like fillings, and teeth start yellowing. TMJ problems often show up during this time too. Tooth pain increases through sensitivity and decay. Throat and mouth cancer screenings become a routine part of dental checkups, especially in cases of excessive smoking, drinking, and tobacco chewing. Late Adulthood
Tooth loss becomes common place from tooth and gum disease. Poor diets and hard living catch up with many people in their tooth health. Bodies naturally deteriorate and conditions like osteoporosis can make eating and talking difficult. Dentures are normal and require different forms of maintenance. Cleaning them every day is vital to limiting pain and bacteria that builds up. Medications required for other health problems often influence the mouth. They don't always damage the teeth directly, but change the amount of saliva and bacteria in the mouth, which does damage teeth and gums. Mouth, throat, and tongue cancers are diagnosed around the average age of 62, which also causes damage and pain. Regular dental visits are very important to making sure your teeth stay healthy and that dentures fit correctly. Cleaning your teeth every day as well as eating a nutrient-dense diet is very important during the later stages of life.