Caries in Seniors

We’re proud at Bridge Smiles Dental Group that many of our patients choose us for life-long care. Oral hygiene never stops being important, and seniors especially need to watch out for tooth decay. Recent information from the Centers for Disease Control indicated that one in five seniors suffered from untreated caries.

Dental caries often occurs in adults who previously had good oral health. There are a number of risk factors seniors face, including difficulty with brushing and flossing due to declining motor control, dry mouth resulting from medications, lack of access to dental insurance to cover regular cleanings, and changes in diet to focus more on foods that are softer, but leave more sugary debris caught between their teeth. And then, there is also forgetfulness and lack of motivation. That seniors developed their permanent teeth before widespread access to fluoridated water means any decline in oral hygiene will have much worse effects on them.

The good news is that all of these problems are fixable, and we can help with some of them, including by recommending home products suited for each of our patient’s needs. The cleanings we provide also go a long way toward ensuring that seniors can keep their natural teeth and are spared toothaches and decay.

Drs. Meghadri and Grewal run Bridge Smiles Dental Group at 820 US Hwy 202 North Neshanic Station, NJ, and 15 North Bridge St. Somerville, NJ. To schedule an appointment, visit BridgeSmilesDental.com.