{"id":388615,"date":"2023-12-19T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/a-dentist-reveals-what-happens-to-your-teeth-as-you-get-older\/"},"modified":"2023-12-19T09:50:15","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T14:50:15","slug":"a-dentist-reveals-what-happens-to-your-teeth-as-you-get-older","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/a-dentist-reveals-what-happens-to-your-teeth-as-you-get-older\/","title":{"rendered":"A Dentist Reveals What Happens to Your Teeth as You Get Older","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

A Dentist Reveals What Happens to Your Teeth as You Get Older<\/a><\/h3>\n

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPosted on December 19, 2023<\/a><\/span> Updated on December 18, 2023<\/a><\/span>\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/figure>\n

A healthy smile helps us<\/a> live long, well and happy lives. But just like our bodies<\/a>, our teeth succumb to age-related changes.<\/p>\n

So what happens to teeth as you age? And what can you do to ensure your smile lasts the distance?<\/p>\n

https:\/\/860ec4cc57e4dcb289069b3b12c6f78a.safeframe.googlesyndication.com\/safeframe\/1-0-40\/html\/container.html<\/a><\/p>\n

First, what are teeth made of?<\/h2>\n

The tooth crown is covered by a hard enamel coat that surrounds softer, brown dentine, which protects a centrally located pulp.<\/p>\n

Enamel is a complex weave of brittle<\/a>, honeycomb-clustered strands that interact with light to make teeth appear opalescent (a pearly, milky iridescence).<\/p>\n

Dentine under enamel<\/a> forms most of the tooth crown and root, and is made of collagen, mineral, water and proteins. Collagen strands are woven<\/a> to stretch and spring back, to prevent teeth<\/a> from cracking and breaking when we grind and chew.<\/p>\n

The pulp has blood vessels and nerves that communicate with the rest of your body.<\/p>\n

Enmeshed in the dentine mineral and collagen are small, interconnected tubules<\/a> formed by specialised cells called odontoblasts<\/a> that settle around the pulp, once our teeth completely form.<\/p>\n

Each tooth contains a finite number of odontoblasts<\/a>, unlike the constantly replenished special bone cells that renew.<\/p>\n

How do our teeth change as we age?<\/h2>\n

Unable to renew, our teeth become brittle<\/a>, and prone to fracture as dentine loses its spring.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/860ec4cc57e4dcb289069b3b12c6f78a.safeframe.googlesyndication.com\/safeframe\/1-0-40\/html\/container.html<\/a><\/p>\n

This is more common<\/a> in teeth with existing crack lines, large fillings or root canal treatments.<\/p>\n

With time, the outer surface of enamel thins<\/a> to reveal the relatively opaque dentine that darkens as we age.<\/p>\n

The dentine darkens because the collagen weave stiffens and shrinks<\/a>, and the fluid in the tubules fills with mineral<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The odontoblasts continue to form dentine inside the tooth to reduce the translucent pulp space. The increase in dentine makes our teeth appear opaque<\/a> and insulates from hot and cold sensations. This is why X-rays<\/a> are useful to detect cavities we may not feel.<\/p>\n

Food and drink particles fill micro-gaps and age-related fine crack lines that run up and down enamel to discolour and stain<\/a>. These stains are easily managed by tooth whitening<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How else can you extend the life of your teeth and brighten your smile? Here are seven tips to avoid dental decline:<\/p>\n

1. Avoid unnecessary forces<\/h2>\n

Avoid using<\/a> your teeth to hold things such as working tools or to open packaging.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/860ec4cc57e4dcb289069b3b12c6f78a.safeframe.googlesyndication.com\/safeframe\/1-0-40\/html\/container.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Take measures to avoid forces such as grinding or clenching<\/a> by wearing a night guard.<\/p>\n

If you have large fillings<\/a> or root canal-treated<\/a> teeth, speak to your dentist about specific filling materials or crowns<\/a> that can protect your teeth from cracking or breaking.<\/p>\n

2. Share the load<\/h2>\n

If you are missing molars or premolars, distribute chewing forces evenly to prevent overloading your remaining teeth.<\/p>\n

Replace missing teeth with bridges<\/a>, implants<\/a> or well-fitted dentures<\/a> to support your bite. Get your dentures checked regularly<\/a> to ensure they fit and support adequately, and replace them at least every ten years.<\/p>\n

3. Preserve your enamel<\/h2>\n

Reduce further enamel and dentine loss<\/a> by selecting soft-bristled tooth brushes and non-abrasive toothpastes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Certain whitening toothpastes can be abrasive, which can roughen and wear<\/a> the tooth surfaces. If you are unsure, stick with toothpastes that are labelled \u201csensitive\u201d.<\/p>\n

Reduce your exposure to acid<\/a> in food (think lemons or apple cider vinegar) or illness (reflux or vomiting) where possible to maintain enamel and prevent erosion.<\/p>\n

4. Enhance your saliva<\/h2>\n

Saliva<\/a> protects against acid attacks, flushes our teeth, and has antibacterial properties to reduce erosion and decay (holes forming).<\/p>\n

Saliva is also important to help us chew, swallow and speak.<\/p>\n

But our saliva quality and quantity reduces because of age-related changes to our salivary glands as well as certain medications prescribed to manage chronic illnesses<\/a> such as depression<\/a> and high blood pressure.<\/p>\n

Speak to your doctor about other medication options to improve your saliva or manage reflux disease to prevent erosion.<\/p>\n

5. Treat gum disease<\/h2>\n

Aesthetically, treating gum disease (periodontitis)<\/a> reduces gum shrinkage (recession) that typically exposes the relatively darker tooth roots that are more prone to developing holes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

6. Manage and prevent senescence<\/h2>\n

Cellular senescence<\/a> is the process that changes DNA in our cells to reduce our ability to withstand physical, chemical or biological damage.<\/p>\n

Cellular senescence enhances new cancer<\/a> formation, the spread of existing cancers and the onset of chronic illnesses such as Alzheimer\u2019s<\/a> disease, diabetes<\/a>, osteoporosis and heart disease.<\/p>\n

You can prevent cell damage by managing lifestyle factors such as smoking, uncontrolled diabetes and chronic infections such as gum disease.<\/p>\n

7. Adapt and ask for help<\/h2>\n

Ageing<\/a> can affect our cognition, hand dexterity and eyesight to prevent us from cleaning our teeth and gums as effectively as we once could.<\/p>\n

If this describes you, talk to your dental care team. They can help clean your teeth, and recommend products and tools<\/a> to fit your situation and abilities.<\/p>\n

Arosha Weerakoon<\/em><\/a>, Senior Lecturer, School of Dentistry, The University of Queensland and General Dentist., The University of Queensland<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

This article is republished from The Conversation<\/a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Source : 1<\/a><\/p>\n