Retirement and Cavities
Why do I keep getting cavities now that I’m older?
When we get old, a lot of things in our bodies begin to change. With age, our bones begin to shrink in size and loose much-needed density — a condition that increases the risk of fracture. Our hair begins to turn gray. Wrinkles and age spots also begin to appear on our skin. When it comes to the oral condition, our taste buds begin to fade. Teeth become darker as the enamel wears away. Our gums also recede over time to expose the roots of our teeth.
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There is no doubt that old age can take a massive hit on your overall dental health. These days, older people may be battling oral infections, tooth decay or cavities, gum disease, and even overall tooth loss. Even though these issues are nothing to be happy about, there are still many things you can do to maintain your oral health and keep your mouth in good shape.
In the United States of America, it is expected that by 2060, the number of US adults aged 65 years or above will hit the 98 million mark, which is about 24% of the overall population. And statistical findings have shown that the most common oral problems affecting such population is:
Tooth decay or cavities affects as much as 96% of adults aged 65 or above, with 1 in 5 of this population having untreated tooth decay.
Tooth loss; 1 in every 5 adults aged 65 years or above has lost all their teeth. This finding increases with age, as complete tooth loss has been found to double in occurrence in people that were 75 years or older.
Gum disease affects a whooping 68% of adults aged 65 or above.
A much less common occurrence is cancers of the mouth, like oral and pharyngeal cancers.
What happens to my mouth as I age?
The human teeth are one of the strongest things in the body. Their solid mineral makeup makes them the hardest substance in the body. This is why the human teeth can withstand pressures of over 200 pounds. But sadly, not even the strongest thing in your body can stand the test of time. Naturally, it is only expected that your teeth weakens after a lifetime of chewing, gnawing, and grinding activities that can gradually wear out their enamel — which is the thin outer layer of the tooth.
To be specific, it is usually the sugary and acidic foods we eat that go on to significantly impact the enamel on our teeth. The enamel's outer layer will deteriorate over time if you consume too much acidic food and drinks and neglect to properly wash your teeth.
When the enamel becomes weakened, it predisposes the teeth to several dental problems. Usually, a crack in the tooth's outer layer exposes the sensitive pulp tissue to irritation and swelling. Also, the condition could already be quite severe before you experience any pain because with age, the nerves at the center of the tooth tend to lose their sensitivity with time. If an infection spreads, a root canal operation or even complete loss of tooth may be necessary. In fact, once you reach the age of 65, the likelihood of developing tooth damage severe enough to call for a root canal or another equally invasive operation triples.
Teeth cavities
As we have seen earlier, dental caries affects a majority of people that have reached 65 years and above. Findings have shown that they are among the most important health issues affecting elderly people, and are mainly responsible for tooth loss in the adult population.
Dental cavities are bacteria-filled holes in the teeth caused by bacteria in the mouth which destroys the tooth enamel and the inner part of the tooth. Cavities that are left untreated can cause toothaches, infections, and even tooth loss. While cavities affect individuals of all ages, it is mostly even more common among children and the elderly population. Brushing, flossing, and routine dental checkups can all assist in preventing the menace of tooth cavities.
What causes tooth cavities?
Cavities can develop due to a variety of factors. Some of them include:
Bacterial buildup or plaque
Our mouth is home to numerous types of bacteria. While some are beneficial and can act to prevent problems like bad breath, others are harmful and can cause conditions like plaque. If you are not aware, when harmful bacteria build up on the teeth, they form a sticky film known as plaque, which covers the teeth as a thin layer.
Plaque is essentially a population of living bacteria surrounded by a gluey polymer layer, which is why scientists refer to it as a biofilm. The microorganisms in your mouth can adhere to surfaces and develop into healthy micro-colonies — thanks to the adhesive properties of their sticky coatings. If plaque isn't routinely removed, it may gather particles from your mouth and harden into a whitish or yellow substance known as tartar.
Plaque-forming harmful bacteria in your mouth feed on food particles that stick to your teeth. As the bacteria act on such food debris, a potent acid is produced as a byproduct. Plaque on your teeth increases the number of bacteria in your mouth, which equally causes greater amounts of this acid to be released. And that is where the damage is done! When such acids are produced in high amounts, they can wear out the tooth enamel, cause gum inflammation or periodontitis, and lead to the development of dental cavities.
Intake of sugary foods
According to the WHO (World Health Organization), dental caries or cavities are the most common form of noncommunicable disease worldwide. A tooth extraction may be necessary as a result of the excruciating pain and infection that severe dental caries frequently causes.
The main dietary component in the growth of dental cavities is free sugars. When oral bacteria break down glucose to produce acids, it demineralizes the hard structures of the teeth like the enamel and dentine.
Poor dental hygiene
When we neglect our dental health for way too long, bacteria and other infections can build up to cause tooth decay. This means when we don't brush or floss our teeth regularly, bacteria get the opportunity to feast and act upon the food materials that get trapped between our teeth — an action that can go on to cause acid production, enamel wear, and eventually, cavity formation.
Is getting older why I’m getting more cavities?
Yes, age is a risk factor for cavity formation. This is because as we age, our teeth begin to wear down, and the gums begin to recede too. This action exposes the tooth root and makes the teeth even more vulnerable to tooth decay.
Apart from problems with oral health, older people also tend to have dry mouths as a result of certain conditions or medications. A dry mouth significantly raises the risk of developing cavities because it allows plaque-forming bacteria to act unhindered. This happens because a dry mouth is lacking in the saliva that can help neutralize the acidic by-product of plaque-forming bacteria in the mouth.
Also, when people become of age, they become more prone to not being able to brush or floss their teeth regularly and properly. This can be as a result of forgetfulness, lethargy, and even joint pain.
In a research published in the PLOS ONE Journal, the prevalence of dental caries was checked in 2376 individuals from northeast China that were between the age of 65 and 74. The results revealed that as much as 67.5% of subjects had dental caries or cavities. The research further concluded that the risk of developing dental caries is higher among elderly people from urban areas, especially those who smoke and lack dental insurance.
Conventional cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and other tobacco products can lead to gum disease, oral cancer, cavities, dry mouth, and other oral health issues. Smokers are more likely to have untreated tooth decay. In fact, more than 40% of smokers between the ages of 20 and 64 have untreated dental decay or cavity.
In another review published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, it was found that exposure to pro-inflammatory conditions and changes in the ability of cells and tissues to heal themselves may play a role in the susceptibility to periodontitis with age. The number of teeth surfaces at risk for cavities increases as a result of accumulated periodontal damage.
How can I fight cavities in old age?
With the help of good oral hygiene and regular use of high-fluoride or hydroxyapatite toothpaste, a person can avoid getting cavities and tooth decay. Since cavities often come with no symptoms at the early stage, it’s critical that one check in with a reliable healthcare professional (dentist) regularly in other to detect it early enough. The ability to detect pre-cavities can also be improved by reducing sugar intake and scheduling routine dental visits. When deterioration occurs in the pre-cavity stage, it is also possible to fight cavities using natural therapies.
Based on the severity of the tooth decay or cavities, treatment includes:
Fluoride treatment
The use of fluoride is a well recognized and effective method in fighting the development of cavities. It is administered in the form of direct fluoride treatment or high fluoride toothpastes. Fluoride plays an important role in the remineralization of worn out teeth enamel that may go on to become a cavity.
Scientific findings have shown that regular teeth bushing using fluoride-containing toothpastes can be able to effectively prevent cavities.
Dental fillings
The first method in fighting cavities is usually the use of fluoride toothpastes, and going for regular dental check ups — both ways work well to prevent their occurrence. However, when cavities have already been formed, especially in old age, the first line of treatment used by healthcare professionals is usually the use of fillings. In this method, dentists drill out the decayed particles from a cavity, and then fill up the resultant hole with dental fillings. Dental fillings are usually made of gold, silver amalgam, or composite resin.
Root canal
When a tooth has deteriorated so deeply that the nerve tissue becomes infected, a root canal is a dental procedure that becomes necessary. It lessens the discomfort brought on by an infected or abscessed tooth. The swollen pulp is taken out during the root canal procedure. After that, the internal surfaces of the tooth are cleansed and disinfected, and a filling is then applied to close the gap.
Tooth extraction
If a tooth is seriously deteriorated or damaged to the extent that it cannot be restored with a filling or crown, tooth extraction may be the only alternative. After tooth extraction, a dental implant could be required to replace a lost permanent tooth. With implants, your appearance and bite won't change as a result of teeth shifting.
Come in for a dental check-up and teeth cleaning.
With old age comes many health challenges. And one of them is the formation of teeth cavities. Old people are at a higher risk of developing tooth cavities due to worn out enamels, receded gums, dry mouth, and possibly poor dental hygiene. However, these teeth cavities can be fought by regular dental hygiene, which involves frequent tooth brushing and flossing. They can also be treated through numerous dental procedures like the fluoride treatments, dental fillings, root canal, and even tooth extraction.
REFERENCES
https://health.ucsd.edu/news/features/pages/2015-08-31-listicle-aging.aspx
https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/basics/adult-oral-health/adult_older.htm
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10946-cavities
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sugars-and-dental-caries
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0078723
https://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/fast-facts/tobacco-use/index.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4282025/