As you age, your dental needs change, and you may start to notice that you’re experiencing more issues than you were when you were younger. When you’re busy raising your kids, taking care of your parents, and trying to build your career, sometimes your dental health takes a back seat, or perhaps you don’t notice the quiet changes your teeth and gums experience.
So, what can you expect when you hit the dental “middle years,” the time when your mouth isn’t young anymore, but it isn’t falling apart either?
Let’s take a look.
The Dental Middle Years: What to Expect
During the dental middle years, your symptoms may not be considered a dental emergency, but you don’t want to ignore them either. The best plan is to make regular preventive visits to your Edwardsville dentist.
Here are some of the issues you may notice:
- Receding gums — Your gum tissue begins to pull away from your teeth, exposing your tooth’s roots. This can lead to increased sensitivity.
- Root cavities — As a result of receding gums, you are more prone to tooth decay at the base of your teeth.
- Wear and tear — It’s normal for your tooth enamel to wear down over time. After decades of chewing food and grinding your teeth, wear and tear is expected.
- Shifting and crowding — When you get older, or when you lose teeth, your jawbone density decreases. This can cause your teeth to shift and overlap.
- Discoloration — As your enamel wears down and gets thinner, the yellowish dentin layer begins to show. Combined with years of drinking coffee, tea, and wine, your teeth will look stained and discolored.
- Failing restorations — If you have fillings, crowns, or bridges, they may begin to fail and need to be replaced. Most restorations last ten years or more, but they don’t last forever.
Looking for Quality Dental Care in Edwardsville, IL?
If so, we’d love to welcome you to our comfortable dental office! At Hite Family Dentistry, we can help you and your loved ones achieve the healthy, beautiful smile they deserve.
To schedule a consultation or appointment, please feel free to reach out to us at (618) 656-9123.
We look forward to hearing from you.