You are never too old to have healthy teeth and gums. And you are never old enough to stop seeing your dentist!

Your dentist wants to make sure you maintain healthy teeth and gums for your whole life!
Gum disease is one of the main dental problems adults face.
Here are some things you should know about gum disease:

»	It is painless
»	It is more common in middle age than in old age
»	Most of the time, it happens slowly. If gum disease goes too far, you may loose teeth

The good news is that if it is caught early, gum disease can be turned around.

Cavities

There are 2 main reasons why adults get cavities:

1)	The fillings in your teeth are not as smooth as the surface of your natural teeth. Tiny bits of food and germs (bacteria) can get stuck at the edge of a filling. This can cause a cavity. Also when a filling breaks, the part of the tooth that is no longer covered is more likely to get a cavity.
2)	Years of brushing your teeth too hard and/or grinding your teeth can make your gums recede, or pull away from your teeth. Getting older can also make gums recede. When your gums pull away from your teeth, the roots of the teeth are out in the open. Roots do not have a hard, outer layer (enamel) to protect them, so they are more likely to get cavities.

Everyone needs to have a dental check-up. As you grow older, you may have false teeth (dentures) or dental implants. These need to be checked by your dentist.

If you're taking medicine that makes your mouth dry, or makes your gums grow, you need to have a dentist take a close look.

 

Caring for your Natural Teeth

Along with check-ups, the 2 most important things you can do to keep your teeth in good shape are brushing and flossing.

Brushing

Brush your teeth twice a day for at least two (2) minutes. If you brush your teeth well, you will remove plaque that cause gum disease and decay.

Flossing removes plaque and germs (bacteria) that you cannot reach with your toothbrush. In fact, if you don't floss, you are missing more that one-third (1/3) of your tooth surface. Floss at least once a day. Try flossing while you do something else, such as watching TV or listening to music.

Problems with Brushing and Flossing

If you find it hard to hold your toothbrush because you have arthritis, or some other health condition, you can:

»	Make the toothbrush handle bigger by wrapping a sponge around it
»	Make it bigger with layers of tin foil (aluminum foil)
»	Put a bicycle handle grip around the toothbrush
»	Use an electric brush

»	Use a plastic floss holder (ask your dentist or drug store clerk about this)
»	Try dental tape (it is wider and easier to hold onto than floss).

False Teeth

You do not have to lose your teeth as you get older. If you do lose a tooth, you can replace it with a false (or artificial) one. If you don't replace it, your other teeth may get out of line.

Teeth that are out of line:

»	Are harder to clean;
»	Are more likely to get gum disease or cavities, and;
»	Can cause jaw problems