Seniors and burning mouth

As we age, we assume that we’ll face new and more frequent medical challenges, but dental health issues are also common among seniors. At Smiles By Sands, Dr. Jamie Sands and Dr. Jason Sands will do their best to provide solutions for your specific concerns about your dental health.

Some dental health issues that are more common among seniors include:

• Gum disease as a result of cancer, diabetes, or poor dental hygiene
• Darkened teeth, which can be due to a buildup of stains over a period of time
• Dry mouth, which can be caused by radiation treatment and by certain medications
• Inflammation of the gums under a poor-fitting denture

 

Another syndrome more common in seniors is burning mouth, which more commonly affects individuals over 50, and affects women more often than men. It’s believed to be related to problems with the taste and sensory nerves. Underlying issues that can lead to burning mouth syndrome are:

• Dry mouth
• Oral yeast infection (thrush)
• Vitamin deficiency
• Dentures
• Nerve damage

In the past, doctors and dentists have believed that reduced salivary gland function came along naturally with age. More recent research, though, indicates that it’s not directly related to aging, but more to increased use of medications and/or underlying chronic illness. If you suffer from dry mouth, Dr. Jamie Sands and Dr. Jason Sands can provide saliva substitutes and rinses that will soothe dry mouth, as well as offer advice on ways to stimulate natural saliva production.

Oral thrush is more accurately referred to as a Candida infection. This is a common oral fungus, which is much more likely to cause a widespread infection among those with weaker immune systems, such as the elderly. While it can be a painful and persistent condition, at Smiles By Sands we can prescribe an anti-fungal medication that will set you quickly on the road to recovery.

If you are a senior in the Valley Village area and have concerns about your dental health, please call Dr. Jamie Sands and Dr. Jason Sands at 818-766-6121 for more information on how we can help.