AgePage

National Institute on Aging

Taking Care 

of Your Teeth 

and Mouth

No matter how old you are, you need to take care of your teeth and mouth. When your mouth is healthy, you can eat the foods you need for good nutrition. You will also feel better about smiling, talking, and laughing. Teeth are meant to last a lifetime. By taking good care of your teeth and gums, you can protect them for many years.Tooth Decay Teeth are covered in a hard, outer coating called enamel. Every day, a thin film of bacteria builds up on your teeth. Over time, the bacteria can cause holes in the enamel. These holes are called cavities. Brushing and flossing your teeth can protect you from decay, but once a cavity 

You can protect your teeth from 

decay by using fluoride toothpaste. If you have a lot of tooth decay, your dentist or dental hygienist may give you a fluoride treatment during an office visit. Or, the dentist may tell you to use a fluoride gel or mouth rinse at home.Gum DiseasesGum disease begins when plaque builds up along and under the gum line. This plaque causes infections that hurt the gum and bone that hold teeth in place. Sometimes gum disease makes your gums tender and more likely to bleed. This problem, called gingivitis, can often be fixed by daily brushing and flossing.

Other gum diseases need to 

be treated by a dentist. If not treated, these infections can ruin the bones, gums, and other tissues that support your teeth. Over time, your teeth may have to be removed

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AgePage

National Institute on Aging

Taking Care 

of Your Teeth 

and Mouth

No matter how old you are, you need to take care of your teeth and mouth. When your mouth is healthy, you can eat the foods you need for good nutrition. You will also feel better about smiling, talking, and laughing. Teeth are meant to last a lifetime. By taking good care of your teeth and gums, you can protect them for many years.Tooth Decay Teeth are covered in a hard, outer coating called enamel. Every day, a thin film of bacteria builds up on your teeth. Over time, the bacteria can cause holes in the enamel. These holes are called cavities. Brushing and flossing your teeth can protect you from decay, but once a cavity h

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You can protect your teeth from 

decay by using fluoride toothpaste. If you have a lot of tooth decay, your dentist or dental hygienist may give you a fluoride treatment during an office visit. Or, the dentist may tell you to use a fluoride gel or mouth rinse at home.Gum DiseasesGum disease begins when plaque builds up along and under the gum line. This plaque causes infections that hurt the gum and bone that hold teeth in place. Sometimes gum disease makes your gums tender and more likely to bleed. This problem, called gingivitis, can often be fixed by daily brushing and flossing.

Other gum diseases need to 

be treated by a dentist. If not treated, these infections can ruin the bones, gums, and other tissues that support your teeth. Over time, your teeth may have to be removed. 

To prev

✦ Brush 

with flu

✦ Floss o✦ Visit yo

for a ch

✦ Eat a w✦ Quit sm

increasgum d

Cleaning and GumThere is a floss your t✦ Gently 

on all sbristle toothp

✦ Use sm

and shstrokes

✦ Take th

carefulthe gum 

✦ Lightly 

help ke

You also 

your teeth 
AgePage

National Institute on Aging

Taking Care 

of Your Teeth 

and Mouth

No matter how old you are, you need to take care of your teeth and mouth. Wh

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You can protect your teeth from 

decay by using fluoride toothpaste. If you have a lot of tooth decay, your dentist or dental hygienist may give you a fluoride treatment during an office visit. Or, the dentist may tell you to use a fluoride gel or mouth rinse at home.Gum DiseasesGum disease begins when plaque builds up along and under the gum line. This plaque causes infections that hurt the gum and bone that hold teeth in place. Sometimes gum disease makes 

To prev

✦ Brush 

with flu

✦ Floss o✦ Visit yo

for a ch

✦ Eat a w✦ Quit sm

increasgum d

Cleaning and Gum
Be careful 

when wearing dentures because they may make it harder for you to feel hot foods and liquids. Also, you may not notice things like bones in your mouth.

Keep your dentures clean and 

free from food that can cause stains, bad breath, or swollen gums. Brush them every day with a denture care product. Take your dentures out of your mouth at night and put them in water or a denture cleansing liquid. Partial dentures are used to fill in one or more missing teeth. Take care of them in the same way as dentures.Dry MouthDry mouth happens when you don’t have enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth wet. That can make it hard to eat, swallow, taste, and even speak. Dry mouth can cause tooth decay and other infections of the mouth. 

Many common medicines can 

cause dry mouth. Try sipping water or sugarless drinks. Stay away from drinks with caffeine. Don’t smoke and avoid alcohol. Some people are helped by sucking sugarless hard candy or chewing sugarless gum. Talk to your dentist or doctor for other ideas on how to cope with dry mouth.Oral CancerOral cancer most often happens in people over age 40. Treatment works best before the disease spreads. Pain is not usually an early symptom of the disease. A dental check-up is a good time for your dentist to look for signs of oral cancer. Even if you have lost all your natural teeth, you should still see your dentist for regular oral cancer exams. 

You can lower your risk of getting 

oral cancer in a few ways: ✦ Do not use tobacco products – 

cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, pipes, or cigars. 

✦ If you drink alcohol, do so 

only in moderation.

✦ Use lip balm with sunscreen.

Finding Dental CThe followbe helpful dental care✦ See if l

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dental ada.orgsearchcodentistwho hafor old
Be careful 

when wearing dentures because they may make it harder for you to feel hot foods and liquids. Also, you may not notice things like bones in your mouth.

Keep your dentures clean and 

free from food that can cause stains, bad breath, or swollen gums. Brush them every day with a denture care product. Take your dentures out of your mouth at night and put them in water or a denture cleansing liquid. Partial dentures are used to fill in one or more missing teeth. Take care of them in the same way as dentures.Dry MouthDry mouth happens when you don’t have enough saliva, or spit, to keep your mouth wet. That can make it hard to eat, swallow, taste, and even speak. Dry mouth can cause tooth decay and other infections of the mouth. 

Many common medicines can 

cause dry mouth. Try sipping water or sugarless drinks. Stay away from drinks with caffeine. Don’t smoke and avoid alcohol. Some people are helped by sucking sugarless hard candy or chewing sugarless gum. Talk to your dentist or doctor for other ideas on how to cope with dry mouth.Oral CancerOral cancer most often happens in people over age 40. Treatment works best before the disease spreads. Pain is not usually an early symptom of the disease. A dental check-up is a good time for your dentist to look for signs of oral cancer. Even if you have lost all your natural teeth, you should still see your dentist for regular oral cancer exams. 

You can lower your risk of getting 

oral cancer in a few ways: ✦ Do not use tobacco products – 

cigarettes, chewing tobacco, snuff, pipes, or cigars. 

✦ If you drink alcohol, do so 

only in moderation.

✦ Use lip balm with sunscreen.

Finding Dental CThe followbe helpful dental care✦ See if l

have stwww.niInforma

✦ Contac

State hto find you thaon inco

✦ Call 88

or visit to locahealth that of

✦ Check 

dental ada.orgsearchcodentistwho hafor old
Be careful 

when wearing dentures because they may make it harder for you to feel hot foods and liquids. Also, you may not notice things like bones in your mouth.

Keep your dentures clean and 

free from food that can cause stains, bad breath, or swollen gums. Brush them every day with a denture care product. Take your dentures out of your mouth at night and put them 

Many common medicines can 

cause dry mouth. Try sipping water or sugarless drinks. Stay away from drinks with caffeine. Don’t smoke and avoid alcohol. Some people are helped by sucking sugarless hard candy or chewing sugarless gum. Talk to your dentist or doctor for other ideas on how to cope with dry mouth.Oral CancerOral cancer most often happens in people over age 40. Treatment works best before the disease spreads. Pain is not usually an early symptom 

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Finding Dental CThe followbe helpful dental care✦ See if l

have stwww.niInforma

✦ Contac

State hto find you thaon inco

✦ Call 88