Humans tend to battle different health challenges as they pass from childhood through young adulthood to their older adulthood years. However, you might not realize that these life transitions can also throw different dental and oral health problems your way.
Although most dental problems can occur at any stage of life, you may want to anticipate your own future dental care needs or understand the most common challenges facing a younger or older loved one. Take a look at how, why, and when these issues may develop, along with smart ways to combat or prevent them.
Childhood: Sports Injuries, Bruxism, and Impacted Wisdom Teeth
Even children whose baby teeth have erupted normally and given way to their permanent replacements without a hitch can encounter numerous dental issues as they grow up. Sports injuries represent a concern for kids who participate in football or other high-impact activities, with falls or blows to the face threatening tooth loss.
Bruxism, or nighttime teeth grinding, also occurs with surprising regularity in children, with up to
50 percent of young children (as opposed to just 15 percent of adolescents and even fewer adults) suffering from this condition. Untreated bruxism can lead to worn, cracked, or broken teeth.
Protect your child against both sports injuries and bruxism by asking your dentist to provide the appropriate mouth guard protection. Sports mouth guards and night mouth guards take different forms and perform different tasks, meaning that your young athlete may require both kinds of protective devices.
Finally, the rearmost molars known as wisdom teeth usually erupt late in the teenage years. Unfortunately, limited space in the jaw often causes these teeth to grow in at an angle, placing stress on neighboring teeth and potentially causing both pain and alignment problems. Your family dentist can extract these impacted wisdom teeth.
Young Adulthood: Tooth Decay and Periodontal Disease
As children mature into adults, they may encounter some unwelcome new dental issues. Although parents often worry about their kids getting a mouthful of cavities that require filling, tooth decay troubles up to
90 percent of adults (presumably over a period of several decades) as opposed to only one-quarter of children.
The threat of periodontal disease also raises its ugly head during the adult years. In this condition, inflammation from bacteria on tartar causes the gum and bone tissue around the teeth to erode and recede. The receding gums expose more of the tooth, promoting cavities, while the tissue loss can cause tooth loss.
Greatly reduce your risk for periodontal disease and its complications by adhering to proper brushing and flossing techniques. However, also schedule regular dental exams and cleanings so your dentist can check for periodontal disease and remove stubborn tartar below the gumline.
Middle Age and the Senior Years: Dry Mouth, Tooth Weakness, and Oral Cancer
Despite your best efforts to care for your teeth and gums as a young adult, you might still develop dental and oral problems later in life. Dry mouth, a common problem for seniors, often contributes by depriving the teeth of protective saliva. Your dentist may recommend that you consult your family doctor about this issue.
Decades of chewing will inevitably take their toll on your teeth. The enamel grows thinner and thinner, potentially making your teeth more sensitive to heat and cold. As the upper and lower teeth wear down, your bite may become uneven. Your teeth may also grow weaker, raising your risk for cracks and breakage.
Oral cancer poses another, more serious threat to your health and wellness. Although younger individuals can get oral cancer, those
over 45 years of age face an elevated risk for it. If you've passed this milestone, request oral cancer screening as part of your regular comprehensive dental exams.
Our skilled, caring team at Eastland Dental Center & Professional Dental Center can help any member of your family maintain optimal dental and oral wellness, regardless of age.
Contact our office to schedule a dental exam, diagnostic procedure, or treatment.
