Have you ever began to notice that over time your teeth begin to become more sensitive, soft, or even a little darker? As your body grows old, your body as well as your teeth begin to change. An advance in age puts you at a higher risk at developing many dental problems including:

Dry Mouth: Xerostomia, or dry mouth, is a decrease in saliva flow
Root Decay: Roots of teeth become exposed as the gum line recedes
Gum Disease: An infection of the tissue surrounding your teeth
Tooth Loss: Decrease in the number of teeth, caused by a variety of factors including gum disease, smoking, and other health issues

Not all people are the same, most people who age begin to develop many dental issues, but not all. To maintain good oral health it is essential for people of all ages to:

• Brush teeth at least twice a day with an ADA approved fluoride tooth paste and a soft bristled toothbrush
• Thoroughly floss at least once a day
• Rinse, with an antibacterial mouthwash
• Visit your dentist regularly

Depending on the current status of your teeth how often you visit the dentist will vary
Additional tips to maintaining good oral health would be to:

Avoid sugary drinks and foods: Replace sugary drinks with water andeat foods from the 5 major food groups.
Avoid smoking: Smoking affects the bone and soft tissue of your teeth, leading to gum disease, oral cancer or stained teeth.
Replace toothbrush: Your toothbrush should be replaced every 2 to 3 months or whenever the bristles of your brush become worn out.
Chew sugar-free gum: Chewing sugar-free gum helps remove leftover debris from teeth and stimulates saliva flow.

Although many adults have different dental issues continual brushing, flossing, rinsing and frequent dentist visits will help ensure good oral health for not only adults but also children of all ages. Be sure to talk to your dentist if any new issues begin to occur so that the dentist can treat and prevent these problems.

Always remember, healthy teeth are the best teeth!