The Impact of Ageing on Your Smile and
How to Address It

No matter if you’re six or sixty, a beautiful smile boosts confidence. Often, it goes hand-in-hand with good oral health—teeth free of decay, healthy gums, and a comfortable bite for functionality. However, as we grow older, just like any other part of our body, our teeth and mouth change.

In this blog, we’ll describe how ageing affects the teeth and gums, as well as explore oral care tips even as you age.

Common Ageing Teeth Problems

Wear & Tear

After years of use, from chewing and grinding to consuming acidic foods and drinks, teeth enamel wears away, affecting their strength. Depending on your dental care routine and lifestyle, you may also face ageing teeth problems such as fractures, cracks, discolouration, or tooth loss.

Receding Gums & Increased Sensitivity

Over time, plaque buildup, poor oral hygiene, and conditions such as diabetes can lead to gum inflammation or more severe gum disease. This, along with aggressive brushing and natural ageing, can cause gum recession. As tooth roots are exposed and enamels erode, you might also experience sensitivity to hot, cold, or sweet foods.

Shifting Teeth & Changes in Bite Alignment

As we age, bone density changes and teeth can shift. This leads to gaps or overcrowding, affecting our bite alignment, making cleaning more difficult, and increasing the risk of decay or gum diseases.

Bone loss can also change our facial structures, impacting the stability of remaining teeth or dentures. Together with weakened jaws or stiffness that comes with age, speaking and eating functions are compromised.

Tips on Keeping Your Smile Fresh & Bright

Here’s what you can do to maintain your best smile and address ageing teeth problems:

Protect Your Teeth from Unnecessary Stress

Avoid using your teeth to open packaging or bite hard objects. You can also prevent wear by grinding and clenching early. Mouthguards you wear at night and bite adjustments can do wonders for this.

If you’re facing tooth loss, replace your teeth promptly to prevent major shifts and ensure you aren’t putting excessive pressure on your remaining teeth. Consider treatments like bridges, implants, or a smile restoration to restore balance.

Preserve Enamel

Keeping your enamel from excessive wear is also a way to address ageing teeth problems. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush with pressure control to avoid over-brushing and suitable toothpaste. Options with a low RDA (relative dentin abrasion) value can make a big difference.

If you’re facing cracks or fractures, porcelain teeth veneers can cover them up, preventing tooth decay while giving you a radiant smile. For more severe issues, a full smile makeover can give your pearly whites a fresh start.

Focus on Gum Health

Healthy gums support your teeth, which makes brushing twice a day and flossing a must.

You can also schedule routine checkups for professional cleaning to remove plaque buildup that daily brushing might miss. Our lifestyle habits, such as smoking, can also cause gum recession and tooth loss, which is another factor to consider changing as we age.

Adopt Healthier Routines

Our diet impacts oral health, so be mindful of acidic foods and drinks that can weaken enamel, such as coffee or lemon juice. When you do consume them, rinse with water or wait at least 30 minutes before brushing to prevent brushing softened enamel. Plus, stay hydrated to prevent ageing teeth problems. This promotes saliva production, which neutralises acids.