Category: Aging Well
Taking Care of Your Teeth & Mouth
Taking care of your mouth is about more than keeping your teeth clean. Your oral health affects how comfortably you can eat, speak, smile, and interact with other people. Problems such as tooth decay, gum disease, dry mouth, mouth sores, and poorly fitting dentures can make everyday activities painful or difficult.
Your mouth continues to need regular care as you get older, even if you have dentures, implants, missing teeth, or only a few natural teeth. Many dental problems can be prevented or treated when they are noticed early.
Brush Twice a Day
Brush your teeth twice each day using a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
A good brushing routine should:
- Clean the front, back, and chewing surfaces of every tooth
- Gently brush along the gumline
- Reach the back teeth
- Clean around crowns, bridges, implants, and other dental work
- Last about two minutes
Use gentle, small movements. Scrubbing hard does not clean the teeth better and may irritate your gums or wear down tooth surfaces.
After brushing, spit out the toothpaste. Follow your dentist’s instructions about rinsing, especially if you use prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste.
Replace your toothbrush or electric toothbrush head every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become bent or worn.
Make Brushing Easier
Arthritis, weakness, tremors, pain, or difficulty gripping objects can make brushing harder.
Helpful options may include:
- An electric toothbrush
- A toothbrush with a larger handle
- A grip added around the handle
- A toothbrush with a small head
- A countertop or wall-mounted toothpaste dispenser
- A seated brushing routine
- A timer or phone reminder
An occupational therapist or dental professional may also recommend adaptations based on your movement and grip.
If brushing has become difficult, ask for help before reducing how often you clean your teeth. A small adjustment may make the routine manageable again.
Helpful Resources: Browse Oral Care for products, equipment, services, or supplies related to this section.
Clean Between Your Teeth
A toothbrush cannot reach every area between the teeth. Clean between your teeth once a day using a method that works for you.
Options include:
- Dental floss
- Floss holders
- Interdental brushes
- Water flossers
- Other cleaners recommended by your dental professional
Move gently to avoid injuring the gums. If your gums bleed, do not automatically stop cleaning between your teeth. Bleeding may be a sign of inflammation or gum disease and should be discussed with a dentist.
Ask your dental hygienist to demonstrate the best technique for your teeth, dental work, and hand control.
Clean Your Tongue
Bacteria and food debris can collect on the tongue and contribute to bad breath or an unpleasant taste.
Gently brush your tongue with your toothbrush or use a tongue cleaner. Do not scrape hard enough to cause pain or bleeding.
Persistent bad breath may be related to dry mouth, gum disease, tooth decay, infection, tobacco use, or another health problem. If it continues despite regular cleaning, schedule a dental evaluation.
Schedule Regular Dental Visits
Regular dental visits help identify problems before they become more painful or difficult to treat.
A dental visit may include:
- Examination of the teeth and gums
- Professional cleaning
- Dental X-rays when appropriate
- Evaluation of dentures, bridges, crowns, or implants
- Screening for signs of oral cancer
- Review of dry mouth, pain, bleeding, or other symptoms
- Recommendations for home care
Ask your dentist how often you should return. Your schedule may depend on your oral health, medical conditions, medications, previous dental problems, and ability to clean your mouth at home.
Do not wait for pain before making an appointment. Tooth decay and gum disease can develop without causing obvious symptoms at first.
Watch for Gum Disease
Gum disease affects the tissues that surround and support the teeth. Early gum inflammation, called gingivitis, can often be reversed with improved home care and professional cleaning. More advanced gum disease can damage the bone supporting the teeth and requires professional treatment.
Possible signs include:
- Red, swollen, or tender gums
- Bleeding while brushing or cleaning between teeth
- Gums pulling away from the teeth
- Persistent bad breath
- Loose teeth
- Changes in how your teeth fit together
- Pain when chewing
- Pus near the gumline
The CDC explains that gingivitis is treatable, while periodontitis can cause permanent bone loss. Contact a dentist if you notice symptoms rather than assuming bleeding or loose teeth are simply part of aging.
Manage Dry Mouth
Dry mouth occurs when your mouth does not produce enough saliva. Saliva helps protect the teeth, control bacteria, support swallowing, and keep the tissues of the mouth comfortable.
Dry mouth may be related to medications, dehydration, medical conditions, cancer treatment, tobacco, or other causes.
Signs may include:
- A sticky or dry feeling
- Thick or stringy saliva
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Cracked lips
- Mouth sores
- A burning sensation
- Changes in taste
- Frequent cavities
- Dentures rubbing or slipping
- Difficulty speaking for long periods
To manage dry mouth:
- Sip water regularly.
- Keep water available during meals.
- Chew sugar-free gum if it is safe for you.
- Use sugar-free lozenges when appropriate.
- Limit tobacco and alcohol.
- Avoid mouthwash containing alcohol if it causes irritation.
- Use a humidifier at night.
- Continue brushing with fluoride toothpaste.
- Ask about saliva substitutes or prescription-strength fluoride.
Do not stop a medication because you believe it is causing dry mouth. Ask the prescriber or pharmacist whether an alternative, dose adjustment, or other treatment may be appropriate.
The American Dental Association recommends discussing persistent dry mouth with a dental professional because it can increase the risk of tooth decay, mouth sores, and infection.
Care for Dentures
Dentures require daily cleaning even though they cannot develop cavities.
Follow the instructions provided by your dentist. In general:
- Place a folded towel in the sink or fill the sink with water so the dentures are less likely to break if dropped.
- Remove and rinse them after eating when possible.
- Brush them with a denture brush and appropriate denture cleaner.
- Clean your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth.
- Store the dentures as directed when they are not being worn.
- Rinse them before placing them back into your mouth.
Do not use hot water, which can change the denture’s shape. Ordinary toothpaste may be too abrasive for some dentures.
Unless your dentist tells you otherwise, remove dentures while sleeping so your gums can rest.
Contact your dentist if your dentures:
- Slip while eating or speaking
- Cause pain or sores
- Feel loose
- Crack or break
- Become difficult to clean
- No longer fit properly
Do not try to repair or reshape dentures yourself. Denture adhesives may provide temporary stability, but they do not correct a poor fit.
Care for Implants, Bridges & Crowns
Dental work still requires regular cleaning and professional care.
Food and plaque can collect:
- Around implants
- Under bridges
- Along crown edges
- Near partial dentures
- Around supporting teeth
Your dentist or hygienist may recommend floss threaders, interdental brushes, water flossers, or other specialized tools.
Report looseness, pain, swelling, bleeding, unusual taste, or difficulty chewing. A crown, bridge, or implant may look intact while the surrounding tissue or supporting tooth needs attention.
Choose Foods That Support Oral Health
A balanced diet supports both oral and overall health.
Try to:
- Drink water regularly.
- Include nutritious foods from different food groups.
- Limit frequent sugary snacks and drinks.
- Avoid slowly sipping sweetened beverages throughout the day.
- Rinse with water after eating when brushing is not possible.
- Choose foods that are comfortable to chew without unnecessarily limiting variety.
Frequent exposure to sugar gives bacteria more opportunities to produce acids that damage the teeth. The number of times your teeth are exposed can matter as much as the total amount consumed.
If pain, missing teeth, or dentures make eating difficult, talk with a dentist rather than avoiding entire food groups. Softer preparation methods or dental treatment may help.
Review Medications & Medical Conditions
Tell your dentist about:
- Prescription medications
- Over-the-counter products
- Vitamins and supplements
- Allergies
- Diabetes
- Heart conditions
- Bleeding disorders
- Joint replacements
- Osteoporosis treatment
- Cancer treatment
- Previous reactions to dental medication or anesthesia
Bring an updated medication list to appointments.
Do not stop blood thinners, osteoporosis medication, or any other prescribed treatment before dental work unless the prescribing professional and dentist provide specific instructions.
Diabetes can affect gum health, and gum disease may be harder to manage when blood glucose is not well controlled. Follow the treatment plan developed with your healthcare team.
Check Your Mouth for Changes
Look inside your mouth regularly in a well-lit mirror.
Check for:
- Sores that do not heal
- Red or white patches
- Unexplained lumps or thickened areas
- Bleeding without an obvious cause
- Numbness
- Ongoing pain
- Difficulty chewing or swallowing
- Changes in your voice
- A persistent sore throat
- Dentures suddenly fitting differently
- Swelling in the mouth, jaw, or neck
A sore caused by accidentally biting your cheek may heal on its own. A change that lasts longer than two weeks should be evaluated by a dentist or healthcare professional.
Tobacco and heavy alcohol use increase the risk of oral cancer. Tell your healthcare team about tobacco, vaping, chewing tobacco, and alcohol use so they can provide appropriate screening and support.
Know When a Dental Problem Is Urgent
Contact a dentist promptly for:
- A severe or persistent toothache
- A broken or knocked-out tooth
- Swelling of the gums, face, or jaw
- Pus or a bad taste coming from one area
- Pain when biting
- A loose adult tooth
- Bleeding that does not stop
- A denture sore that is not healing
- Fever with dental pain or swelling
Seek emergency care for:
- Difficulty breathing or swallowing
- Rapidly increasing facial or neck swelling
- Uncontrolled bleeding
- A serious injury to the face or jaw
- Dental symptoms accompanied by confusion, weakness, or another medical emergency
A dental infection does not always remain limited to one tooth. Do not place aspirin directly against the tooth or gum, because it can burn the tissue.
If a permanent tooth is knocked out, hold it by the crown rather than the root. If it is dirty, gently rinse it without scrubbing. Contact an emergency dentist immediately for instructions.
Plan for the Cost of Dental Care
Dental care can become expensive when problems are allowed to grow.
Before treatment, ask:
- What problem needs to be treated?
- What happens if I wait?
- Is the treatment urgent?
- What alternatives are available?
- What is the estimated cost?
- What will insurance cover?
- Will the treatment require more than one visit?
- Are payment arrangements available?
Ask for a written treatment plan when several procedures are recommended.
Medicare coverage for routine dental care is limited, although some Medicare Advantage plans include dental benefits. Medicaid coverage varies by state. Community health centers, dental schools, local health departments, and nonprofit programs may offer lower-cost care.
Do not avoid asking about price. Understanding the cost is part of making an informed healthcare decision.
Create a Simple Daily Routine
Morning:
- Brush with fluoride toothpaste.
- Clean dentures before placing them in your mouth.
- Use prescribed rinses or treatments as directed.
Evening:
- Brush again.
- Clean between your teeth.
- Remove and clean dentures.
- Check for pain, sores, swelling, or bleeding.
Keep supplies together in a clean, easy-to-reach location. Replace worn equipment and reorder toothpaste, denture cleaner, flossers, or other products before they run out.
Final Thoughts
Healthy teeth and gums are not only about appearance. They help you eat comfortably, speak clearly, avoid pain, and stay involved in everyday life.
Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, clean between your teeth daily, care for dentures and dental work, and attend dental visits as recommended. Pay attention to dry mouth, bleeding gums, loose teeth, pain, swelling, and sores that do not heal.
If brushing, flossing, paying for care, or getting to the dentist has become difficult, explain the specific problem. Your dental team, healthcare providers, family, or community programs may be able to help you find a workable solution.
