What Happens To Our Teeth When We Get Older? Are Prosthetic Palates Our Demise?

“MY TEETH WERE LIKE PEARLS WHEN I WAS YOUNG.” So, what now? Well, unfortunately, everything in nature gets abraded in time. Our teeth are mo exception. The layer that surrounds our teeth is a strong one and it is called enamel. This layer gets abraded in time. So, what abrades it?

-Consumption of acidic foods or beverages: Pickles, sodas etc.

-Abrasive toothpastes: These are bleaching pastes, dusts or carbonates that are rich in abrasive materials.

-Brushing incorrectly: Especially relying on the horizontal motion more than you should.

-Grinding and clenching teeth

-Wrong restorations etc.

-Relying on incisors too much to crack nuts with shells

-Consuming something hot right after something cold, or vice versa.

Such abrasions and breakages are treated with related measures when they are not too complex. Especially against abrasions due to brushing incorrectly, reviewing the habit of brushing and using special stick-on systems work like a charm.

There are toothpastes designed against acidic corrosion.

There are apparatus specially designed for grinding teeth.

Mending breakages and cracks is possible with composites.

ANOTHER AGE-RELATED DEFORMATION IS WITHDRAWN GUMS.

Gum problems are generally the cause of withdrawn gums.

Healthy gums are pink and their texture resembles orange peels. In time the sticky slimes around teeth that host many microorganisms, called plaques, turn into tartars.

These tartars separate teeth from each other and abrade the bone structure around teeth. Teeth get shaky in time. There are even teeth losses at this point.

To avoid withdrawn gums, dental care should be exercised daily by yourself, and every 6 months by your dentist. Withdrawn gums and abrasions around teeth cause you to look older.

It is possible to intervene shaky and abraded teeth with composite laminates and splints. Applications like these contribute to the cosmetic appeal of teeth, as well as give them a healthier look. In addition, they intervene the cold-hot sensitivity issues due to the parts of teeth connected to the bone being exposed.

THE MOST IMPORTANT AGE-RELATED ISSUE IS TOOTH DECAY. When teeth erupt for the first time, their ruffles are quite deep. Microorganisms that easily settle into these ruffles cause decay in time. So, if the ruffles are sealed when teeth erupt for the first time, in other words if fissure sealant applications are performed (DENTAL POLISH) tooth decay may be avoided.

The side surfaces are the areas on which there occur most tooth decays of adulthood. So, these side surfaces should be flossed thoroughly. Water-flossing (WATERPICK) is a method that has been gaining popularity, a method where these side surfaces are cleaned with water. It is becoming more popular day by day and I advise it, too.

MISSING TEETH SHOULD BE COMPENSATED. Thinking that there are 31 more when you lose a single tooth is a wrong mindset. Every tooth in your mouth has a function.When this function becomes inapplicable, neighboring teeth shift to compensate for the missing function, disrupting the contact between teeth. So, as soon as you lose teeth, you should have it compensated. IMPLANTS, bridges, zirconium bridges are the methods of compensation for tooth losses.

Embedded wisdom teeth or canine teeth cause jaw problems. So, when it is sure that they will be embedded, or if they are already embedded, they should be removed.

REACHING ADULTHOOD WITH CROOKED TEETH facilitates the occurrence of tartars and decays in between teeth in future ages. So, teeth should be corrected, that is, an orthodontic treatment has to be done, before a patient reaches adulthood.

INABILITY TO EXERCISE NASAL BREATHING causes a patient to sleep with an open mouth, increasing the occurrence of a dry mouth and tartars. So, the reasons of being unable to exercise nasal breathing should be examined and treated accordingly.

It really matters to have healthy teeth when you are older. Being unable to eat carrots or salads, or swallowing them without chewing them and suffering from stomach aches afterwards, when you need the vitamins and the nutritions the most, are quite worrying. I hope that you will see the light with this post and help yourself avoid these problems. Take care.