As you reach midlife, your smile may not seem how it used to be. Although this could be the result of poor oral health, certain medications, or a health condition, some tooth and gum changes can be a result of midlife hormonal shifts.
Read below to learn more about common teeth and gum changes in midlife and ways you can help preserve your oral health as you age.
Common Teeth and Gum Changes In Midlife
Midlife can cause a variety of changes in your teeth and gums like yellowing and thinning of teeth, receding gums, and increased risk of periodontal disease. These oral health changes can worsen with tobacco use as well as poor oral health behaviors such as not brushing or flossing enough or foregoing dental cleanings.
🪥 Periodontal Disease
One particular oral health issue that worsens with age is periodontal disease. This condition leads to receding gums, wobbly teeth, and tooth loss among older adults. Not to mention that periodontal disease can increase one’s risk of heart disease. While age itself doesn’t cause periodontal disease, lack of dental health care and saliva can increase your risk of gum disease and tooth decay.
💧 Low Saliva Production
Along with aging, low saliva production can also be a result of some cholesterol and high blood pressure medicines, side effects from cancer treatment, or health conditions like diabetes and stroke, for example. Besides periodontal disease, low saliva production can increase risk of dental caries, affect taste, and increase risk of bad breath, all of which can affect quality of life.
🌊 Hormonal Shifts
Low salivary flow can occur in third-trimester pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause from hormonal shifts. In perimenopause and menopause, the significant decline in estrogen and progesterone causes such salivary and oral health challenges as dry mouth, periodontal disease, and osteoporosis-related bone loss that can impact tooth mobility. In males, lower testosterone levels with age can increase one’s risk of periodontitis.
This Is About Function, Not Performance Theater
Although you can’t prevent all aging-related dental changes, there are some simple tips you can follow to lessen your risk of oral health issues.
Brush twice daily with a soft-bristle toothbrush and fluoride-containing toothpaste
Floss at least once a day
Visit your dentist at least once or twice a year for cleanings and check-ups
Avoid sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages, which can increase one’s risk of dental caries
Enjoy a diet rich in complex carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains which may help reduce gingivitis and periodontitis risk
Do not smoke or use tobacco
In addition to these tips, you should lessen your intake of alcohol and high acid foods like citrus, red wine, coffee, and sugary colas that can increase risk of tooth erosion. Not to mention that red wine, coffee, and dark colored colas can also stain tooth enamel. And if you are not quite at midlife yet, remember that maintaining good oral health from youth is the most vital thing you can do to improve oral health throughout life.
The cornerstone of overall health is oral health, which naturally can decline with age. Hormonal shifts along with certain health conditions, medications, and lifestyle behaviors can put teeth and gums at greater risk of decline.
Fortunately, by tweaking a few of your lifestyle behaviors such as diet and oral health routines, you can help lessen your risk of dental disease and in turn improve your quality of life and health for years to come.