AN elderly individual does not lose their teeth because they have grown old. They lose them because of diseases. Oral diseases often mirror general ones. Remember, the risk of disease increases with age. So, there is no such thing as natural tooth loss in adults. No adult must lose a normal tooth if they do not want to.

Nevertheless, there continue to be widespread misconceptions about ageing in general and its impact on oral health in particular.

Interdisciplinary research in the human ageing process has demonstrated that it is the effects of disease, and not ageing itself, that are most significant for our perception of ourselves and others as either ‘young’ or ‘elderly’ in the later years of life. We often become modest about our age as we grow older. We are so influenced by today’s youth culture that youthfulness remains an ideal for us even when we have reached a considerable age. It is not surprising that the chronological ageing process is a traumatic experience for many.

Dental diseases and alterations in saliva and mucous membranes may be early indicators of a decline in the overall health status of older individuals. These may indicate a weakening of the tissues’ biological defence thresholds for different stresses. Few tissues in the human body must withstand what the oral tissues must, not only in terms of possible dryness, but also mechanically, thermally, microbially, chemically and galvanically (electrically).

We should therefore not be afraid of age and the belief that our teeth will be lost because of it. Instead, we should be aware of health hazards that tend to exaggerate our actual age, making us appear and behave much older than we are.

As you get older, the frequency of your dental check-ups should increase from once every six months to once every two months. On average, a seventy-year-old should have a dental examination every two months. Why is this? Well, they have an increased risk for root caries due to both gingival recession, which exposes the root, or sometimes certain medications that can produce xerostomia (dry mouth).

I would recommend an electric toothbrush for the elderly. It is very convenient, as it is rechargeable. One simply places the brush on the surface of the tooth, and with its mechanical vibration, the tooth is cleaned in that area. Additionally, I recommend using fluoride toothpaste and rinsing thoroughly with mouthwash.

The older person needs to observe the following principles as regards oral health:

1. Do not have your teeth extracted unless the dentist deems it necessary. The presence of even a few teeth in your mouth is vital for denture satisfaction.
2. If you still have a few teeth, be sure to take extra care of them. Their preservation can mitigate much of the unfortunate loss of the remaining teeth.
3. While dentures can never substitute natural teeth, they may provide physical, psychological and social compensation. The state of a person’s mouth tells a lot about them.
4. Consult a dentist early if you should ever experience or observe anything in and/or around your mouth which you consider to be unusual.