HealthyLife Articles

Category: Dental & Mouth Concerns

Teeth & Mouth Changes With Aging

Dental & Mouth Concerns

As you age, changes occur with your teeth and mouth. Common changes are:

* Fewer taste buds on your tongue, especially for sugary and salty foods, but not for bitter tasting foods

* Drier mouth. The tissues in your mouth get thinner and tend to hold less moisture. This makes your mouth more dry. Some medications can add to the problem. Examples are water pills, some antidepressants, and antihistamines.

* Gum problems. Your gums may recede. This exposes the roots of your teeth and can promote cavities.

* Loss of natural teeth. Proper care of your teeth can prevent this. In persons over age 40, the number one cause of tooth loss is periodontal (gum) disease.

More than half of persons over age 50 have at least one tooth replaced. A tooth or teeth can be replaced as crowns, bridges, partial or full dentures. Dental implants are another option.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Cancer Of The Mouth Area Warning Signs

Dental & Mouth Concerns

See a doctor or dentist if you have any of these signs for 2 weeks or longer:

* A sore in the mouth that does not heal

* A lump or thickening in the cheek

* A white or red patch on the gums, tongue, or lining of the mouth

* Soreness or a feeling that something is caught in the throat

* A hard time chewing or swallowing or a hard time moving the jaw or tongue

* Numbness of the tongue or other area of the mouth; swelling of the jaw that causes dentures to fit poorly or become uncomfortable

Any of these signs may be caused by oral cancer or by other, less serious problems. Don’t wait for something to hurt. Pain is not usually an early symptom of oral cancer.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome

Dental & Mouth Concerns

Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome occurs when the muscles, joints, and ligaments of the jaw move out of alignment.

Signs & Symptoms

* Pain is felt in or around an ear. Pain in the jaw spreads to the face or the neck and shoulders. Pain is felt when you open and close your mouth or you can’t fully open the mouth.

* Headaches. Toothaches.

Causes

* Clenching or grinding the teeth (bruxism).

* Poor posture or sleeping in a way that misaligns the jaw or creates tension in the neck.

* Stress in life when it results in muscle tension in the neck and shoulder.

* Incorrect or uneven bite or injury to the jaw.

Treatment

* Wearing a mouthguard or bite plate.

* Physical therapy.

* Medicine to reduce swelling. One type is given through a shot in the jaw joint. Muscle relaxants for a short period of time.

* Counseling if the TMJ is caused by stress.

* Surgery is a last resort.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

Self-care measures may reduce the need for medical treatment.

* Massage the jaw area several times a day, first with your mouth open, then with it closed.

* Wear a mouth protector or mouth device, as prescribed by your doctor or dentist.

* Take medication, as prescribed.

* Don’t chew gum or eat foods that are hard to chew.

* Try not to open your jaw too wide when you yawn and when you bite into foods, such as an apple, triple-decker sandwich, etc.

* To help reduce muscle spasms that can cause pain, apply moist heat to the jaw area. Use a washcloth soaked in warm water.

* If stress is a factor, use relaxation exercises.

* Take steps to reduce the risk of jaw injuries.

* Maintain a good posture.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Canker Sores

Dental & Mouth Concerns

Canker sores are small, round mouth sores in the lining of the mouth or on the tongue, gums, or lips. You can have one canker sore or a group of them.

Signs & Symptoms

* A burning or tingling feeling before the sore appears

* Red-rimmed, shallow sores in the mouth

* Discomfort when you eat and talk

Causes, Risk Factors & Care

Canker sores may be caused by any tear in the mouth’s lining, from an uneven tooth, rough tooth brushing, a burn from a hot drink, etc. Vitamin/mineral deficiencies, emotional stress, and family traits may also trigger canker sores.

Canker sores heal within 1 to 2 weeks. Self-care can help with symptoms and speed up healing. If needed, a mouthwash with tetracycline and/or an oral paste (amelxanox) can be prescribed.

Self-Care / Prevention

To Relieve Pain:

* Mix 1/2 cup salt in 1 cup of warm water. Rinse the mouth with an ounce of this mixture 4 times a day. Don’t swallow the water.

* Put ice on the canker sore or suck on a frozen popsicle.

* Avoid spicy foods and acidic drinks, like citrus juices.

* Use over-the-counter products, like Anbesol, Blistex, and aloe vera gel.

* Swish Mylanta or milk of magnesia around the mouth to coat the sore. Then spit the medicine out.

* Put the gel from a vitamin E capsule on the sore several times a day.

* Take an over-the-counter pain medicine.

Prevention

* Avoid things that irritate the mouth, such as hot drinks and sharp objects.

* Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate. Don’t brush too hard.

* Take a daily vitamin/mineral supplement as advised by your doctor.

Medical Care

Contact Doctor When:

* You have any of these problems with the canker sore:

– Fever and/or swollen glands

– Severe pain

– A sore on the roof of the mouth or white spots in the mouth that do not heal in 1 to 2 weeks

* A canker sore disturbs your sleep or does not allow you to eat.

* A canker sore appears only after you start a new medicine.

* A canker sore has not healed after 3 weeks.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Seal Out Tooth Decay

Dental & Mouth Concerns

Even if you brush, floss, rinse with fluoride, and never eat a sticky sweet, decay-causing bacteria can invade the tiny pits and crevices in your molars, or chewing teeth. To head off that kind of decay, researchers have developed sealants-special plastic coatings that form an effective barrier between bacteria and the chewing surfaces of your teeth, where fluoride is less effective.

Approximately 90 percent of the cavities in school-age children occur in crevices in the back teeth, so sealants are best applied when the permanent molars first emerge. (The American Dental Association reports a significant decrease in cavities in children who have sealants applied to their teeth.) But that doesn’t mean sealants aren’t useful or appropriate for adults who have cavity-prone teeth. So ask your dentist or dental hygienist about sealants the next time you have a dental checkup.

The procedure is simple, pain-free, and won’t interfere with later dental work. Sealed teeth may need to be touched up periodically, though.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Cold Sores

Dental & Mouth Concerns

Cold sores appear on or near the lips. They are painful and unpleasant. Nearly 1 in 3 people will have them. Cold sores are also called fever blisters.

Signs & Symptoms

* Tingling feeling on or near the lips for 36 to 48 hours before the sore appears

* Itching at the site (early sign)

* Small, red blisters with pus-filled centers

* Blisters form a yellow crust that lasts about 10 days

* One sore or a cluster of sores

Causes, Risk Factors & Care

Cold sores are caused by the herpes sim- plex virus (HSV), either HSV-1 (this is most often the cause) or HSV-2 (the usual cause of genital herpes). The virus lies dormant in the body and can return. A fever, cold, stress, cold or windy weather, and strong sun exposure are triggers for outbreaks.

Cold sores are very contagious, especially when the blisters rupture and weep.

Cold sores are treated with self-care and antiviral medications, such as acyclovir and penciclovir. Prompt treatment may reduce the discomfort.

Self-Care / Prevention

* Keep the sore clean and dry.

* Apply antiviral medication, if prescribed, to the affected area at the first sign of a cold sore.

* Try an over-the-counter treatment, such as Abreva antiviral cream, Campho-Phenique, Blistex, or make a paste with cornstarch and water. Dab some on the sore with a cotton swab.

* Dab aloe vera or petroleum jelly on the sore. Use a cotton swab.

* Apply ice to the sore or suck on a frozen popsicle.

* Take an over-the-counter medicine for pain.

* Learn to relax. Meditate, practice yoga, etc. Learn to deal with stress, too.

* Avoid foods that are sour, spicy, or acidic. These may irritate the sores.

* Take vitamin C and/or zinc supplements, as directed by your doctor.

* Apply cool compresses when the sores have crusted over.

* Try not to worry or be too self-conscious. This only makes the situation worse.

Prevention

To avoid getting or spreading cold sores:

* Don’t share drinking glasses, towels, or cooking utensils.

* Don’t touch cold sores with your fingers. If you do touch the cold sores, do not touch your eyes. This could cause a serious eye infection.

* Wash your hands often.

* Avoid kissing or direct skin contact with the sores. This includes oral sex. The virus that causes cold sores can cause genital herpes, too.

* When in the sun, wear a hat and use a sunblock with a sun-protective factor (SPF) of 15 or more on the lips.

* Use a lip balm on cold or windy days.

* Ask your doctor about a prescribed antiviral medicine to take or apply when you feel a cold sore coming on.

* Try to figure out what triggers the sores. Once you identify a trigger, do what you can to avoid it.

* Get regular exercise.

Medical Care

Contact Doctor When:

* You have eye pain with the cold sore. Pain from the sore limits normal activity.

* The cold sore has lasted longer than 2 weeks.

* Cold sores appear 4 or more times a year.

* Cold sores appeared after you started a new medicine or are present while taking steroid medicines.

* Eczema

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Toothaches

Dental & Mouth Concerns

Signs & Symptoms

* Pain in or around a tooth that throbs or occurs with a fever and/or general ill feeling. Tooth pain occurs after you eat or drink or have something hot, cold, or sweet.

* Gums are red, swollen, and/or bleed.

* Earache and/or swollen glands on one side of the face or neck.

Causes

* A food particle, such as a popcorn hull, gets stuck between the gum and a tooth.

* Tooth grinding (bruxism). This can wear down teeth and cause cracks in them.

* A cavity or infection is beneath or around the gum of a tooth.

* Tooth abscess. This is swelling and/or infection in the bone and/or the tooth’s canals.

* Gum (periodontal) disease.

* Impacted teeth. Teeth may not fully erupt or can grow at odd angles.

* Temporary pain from recent dental work.

* TMJ.

* An injury to a tooth.

* A symptom of a sinus infection.

* A symptom of angina and a heart attack.

Treatment

Emergency care is needed for a heart attack. A dentist or doctor can diagnose and prescribe proper treatment for other problems.

Questions to Ask

Self-Care / Prevention

To Treat Tooth Pain Until You See the Dentist

* Gargle with warm salt water every hour. Hold an ice pack on the jaw. Don’t drink hot or cold liquids. Avoid sweets, soft drinks, and hot or spicy foods. It may be best not to eat at all until you see your dentist.

* Gently floss around the tooth to remove food particles that could be between the teeth.

* Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. Don’t place a crushed aspirin on the tooth, though. Aspirin burns the gums and destroys tooth enamel.

* For a cavity, pack it with a piece of sterile cotton soaked in oil of cloves. You can get this at a drug store.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Ways To Relieve Dental Anxiety

Dental & Mouth Concerns

If you dread going to the dentist, ask about anxiety-reducing techniques you can use to help stay calm and relaxed. Some effective strategies follow.

* Tell your dentist how you feel. Some dentists are trained in helping anxious patients overcome fear of dental procedures.

* Ask if you can listen to soothing music or relaxation CDs played on a stereo headset. Ask if the dentist offers a hand-held device that allows you to press a button to stop the dentist’s drill.

* If your dentist is skilled at hypnosis, consider being hypnotized.

* If your anxiety is more than you can handle, see a psychotherapist who specializes in treating dental anxiety and other phobias.

Have a routine cleaning and checkup every six months. Preventive care will minimize the need for more painful and lengthy treatment.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
When To Consider Crowns

Dental & Mouth Concerns

Crowns can restore teeth that are broken, chipped, missing, or damaged by decay or disease. A crown is a tooth-shaped porcelain cap that fits over the natural tooth. Crowns improve your appearance, but they also protect your teeth and prolong their useful life.

Ask your dentist about crowns if you have any of the following dental problems.

* Badly decayed and damaged teeth.

* Stained, chipped, or cracked teeth.

* Noticeable spaces or gaps between teeth.

* Teeth loosened by periodontal (gum) disease.

* Teeth that have undergone root canal therapy.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Dental Hygiene

Dental & Mouth Concerns

Taking care of your teeth and gums helps your teeth last a lifetime.

Brush and floss your teeth twice a day. Get a dental exam once or twice a year. If you have not seen a dentist in over a year, schedule a dental exam today.

Dental problems affect more than your teeth and gums. Gum (periodontal) disease and other mouth infections may increase the risk for pneumonia, heart disease, and diabetes.

Let your dentist know if you have tooth pain, red or swollen gums, bad breath that doesn’t go away or any other dental problem.

Change toothbrushes at least every 3 to 4 months; sooner if the bristles are frayed.

Rinse your toothbrush after each use to remove debris and leftover toothpaste. Store toothbrushes upright in a holder far enough apart that bristles don’t touch.

Find out more from the American Dental Association atada.org.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026