As you age, you are more likely to develop oral conditions. These might be due to aging, smoking or drinking problems, or bad dental hygiene. No matter what the cause, dental issues are no fun at all. With your teeth being one of the most prominent facial features you have, it's vital that you take care of them from an early age and maintain good oral health throughout your life. However, there are a range of different conditions and issues you might face as you get older. Here are some of them:

1. Gum Disease

Having healthy gums is the main tenet of good oral health. However, gum disease is a condition in which plaque develops on the teeth, causing bad breath and infection. You can develop gum disease without realizing it by not brushing for long enough or not flossing properly. Most people bleed when they floss, this is a sign that your gums are not as used to flossing as they should be. Making proper flossing a part of your daily routine will help you avoid gum disease in the future. As you get older, the risk of gum disease becomes higher due to increased bone loss and tooth loss.

2. Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is a common problem as you get older, largely because your teeth are exposed more as your gums recede, eating away at the enamel and exposing the root structure of your teeth. It is important that you take extra care in caring for your teeth before you have any major problems with them; otherwise, it can be very expensive to try and fix them completely.

3. Root Decay

As you age, your teeth are more likely to develop root decay, in which the tooth's root becomes decayed and infected. This can usually be treated by having a crown fitted over the top of your tooth that covers the root structure and can be treated from there. Full dentures might benefit older people to ensure that their teeth don't become prematurely decayed.

4. Pearly Whites

Becoming gray or yellowed is normal, but as you grow older, a whitening toothpaste might be beneficial to you. The effect here comes from the hydrogen peroxide in the paste, which helps keep your teeth white and strengthen them against food and drink sugars. Traditional toothpaste will contain abrasives that can make your teeth sensitive, so make sure to find a whitening toothpaste that contains glycerin instead.

5. Sensitivity

As you age, your teeth become more sensitive. This is large because tooth enamel erodes as you age, leaving a thinner layer of protection on the dentin beneath. Sensitivity can be treated by using specialized toothpaste or taking up a specialized diet that doesn't contain salty or acidic foods and drinks.

6. Darkened Teeth

As you age, your teeth might turn a darker shade due to the decrease in calcium level in your body. This can be fixed by taking calcium supplements regularly to prevent your teeth from becoming discolored. This is a natural process that you can't prevent, but should you be worried about discoloration; there are teeth-whitening options to suit your needs.

Conclusion

As you get older, there is a range of different oral conditions that you can develop. It's important that you maintain good oral hygiene and take care of your teeth as best as possible, so they don't become damaged or broken, which could leave you with a lot of money to pay out in the long term. Looking for some of the solutions we mentioned here as well as others as early as possible, is your best bet at avoiding dental problems in your future.