Simple Steps To Better Dental Health
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Featuring consumer information from Columbia School of Dental & Oral Surgery
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Oral Health Made Simple: Your Prescription For Knowledge
 PREVENT PROBLEMS
Small BoxAll About Cavities
Small BoxBrushing and Flossing
Small BoxFluoride
Small BoxMouth-Healthy Eating
Small BoxSealants
Small BoxTaking Care Of Your Teeth
Small BoxTobacco
Small BoxYour Dental Visit
Small BoxMORE
 CONDITIONS
Small BoxBad Breath
Small BoxCavities
Small BoxCold Sores
Small BoxDry Mouth
Small BoxImpacted Tooth
Small BoxSensitive Teeth
Small BoxTMJ
Small BoxTooth Discoloration
Small BoxMORE
 TREATMENTS
Small BoxCrowns
Small BoxDentures
Small BoxFillings: The Basics
Small BoxGum Surgery
Small BoxImplants
Small BoxRoot Canal Treatment
Small BoxScaling and Root Planing
Small BoxWhitening
Small BoxMORE
 GENERAL TOPICS
Small BoxControlling Pain
Small BoxCosmetic Dentistry
Small BoxEmergencies
Small BoxFill, Repair, Replace
Small BoxKids And Teens
Small BoxOral Health and Your Body
Small BoxOrthodontics
Small BoxPeriodontics
Small BoxSeniors
Small BoxMORE
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Step 1 Prevent ProblemsSimplestepsPrevent Problems
Step 2 Understand ConditionsSimplestepsUnderstand Conditions
Step 3 Explore TreatmentsSimplestepsExplore Treatments

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Your Mouth and Teeth Age, Too

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space placeholder.Tooth Changes.
space placeholder.Changes to Gums.
space placeholder.General Oral Changes.
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As we age, so do our mouths. Even if you take excellent care of your teeth, your teeth and gums will undergo certain changes as you get older. Also, as you get older, you are more likely to take medications or have a disease that can affect your oral health. Here are some of the changes you might notice as you age.

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space placeholder.Tooth Changes
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Chewing, cleaning, and the normal processes of life will cause your teeth to wear down over time. People who clench or grind their teeth may have more tooth wear than other people.

You may notice that your teeth look darker as you age. That's because aging dentin — the tooth's middle layer — holds stains easier.

Many older people have more plaque build up on their teeth, but this is not because they are older. It's related to other physical changes that can make it more difficult to brush and floss every day. For example, people with arthritis or neurological difficulties may not be able to clean their teeth as well, or may forget to do it.

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space placeholder.Changes to Gums
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Your gums naturally recede over time. If the roots of your teeth are exposed, your teeth can become sensitive. Fluoride rinses can decrease this sensitivity and also help prevent decay on the roots.

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space placeholder.General Oral Changes
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Some oral changes are not caused by aging, but are side effects of medications or other diseases. For example, many drugs and some systemic diseases cause changes in the way things taste. Taste changes can cause nutritional problems because food becomes less attractive and people may not eat a balanced diet.

Dry mouth is very common in older people, and is usually a side effect of medication: Hundreds of medications can cause dry mouth.

Saliva normally washes away food particles and bacteria and helps keep your mouth clean; if you have dry mouth, the food particles and bacteria will stay around longer and are more likely to cause decay. Over-the-counter fluoride rinses can help protect your teeth from decay. You can moisten your mouth using artificial saliva, or by drinking lots of water or sucking on unsweetened lemon drops.

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