{"id":994,"date":"2019-07-08T18:15:27","date_gmt":"2019-07-08T18:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/?p=994"},"modified":"2019-07-08T18:15:28","modified_gmt":"2019-07-08T18:15:28","slug":"common-adult-questions-part-3-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/common-adult-questions-part-3-4\/","title":{"rendered":"COMMON ADULT QUESTIONS \u2013 PART 3\/4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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I find\nthat some foods have become difficult to chew and swallow. Do I really need to\neat the same amount or variety of food that I did when I was younger?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maintaining\nproper nutrition is important for everyone, young or old. Many older adults do\nnot eat balanced diets and avoid meats, raw vegetables and fresh fruits because\nthey have trouble chewing or swallowing. These problems can be caused by\npainful teeth, ill-fitting dentures, dry mouth or changes in facial muscles.\nOthers find their sense of taste has changed, sometimes due to a disease or\ncertain medications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because\nof these and other factors, the diets of older adults are often lacking in\ncalcium, protein and other nutrients essential to dental and overall health.\nYou need a balanced diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If\nyou are unable to eat certain things that you enjoy and contribute to a\nwell-balanced diet, address the reason this is a problem. Consult your\nphysician, nutritionist and dentist about the possible use of supplements to\nmake up for the parts of your diet that are lacking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do my\nteeth seem darker? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One\nof the changes you may notice as you grow older is that it’s harder to keep\nyour teeth clean and white. This is because the sticky, colorless layer of\nbacteria, called plaque, can build up faster and in greater amounts as we age.\nChanges in dentin, the bone-like tissue that is under your enamel, may also\ncause your teeth to appear slightly darker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regular\nprofessional dental hygiene visits are vital to maintaining and monitoring your\noral health. For most, professional teeth bleaching is a cost-effective way to\nbrighten your smile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why does my mouth feel dry?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reduced\nsaliva flow that results in a dry mouth is a common problem among older adults.\nIt is caused by certain medical disorders and is often a side effect of\nmedications such as antihistamines, decongestants, pain killers and diuretics.\nSome of the common problems associated with dry mouth include a constant sore\nthroat, burning sensation, problems speaking, difficulty swallowing, hoarseness\nor dry nasal passages. Left untreated, dry mouth can damage your teeth. Without\nadequate saliva to lubricate your mouth, wash away food, and neutralize the\nacids produced by plaque, extensive cavities can form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your\ndentist can recommend various methods to restore moisture. Sugar-free candy or\ngum stimulates saliva flow, and moisture can be replaced by using artificial\nsaliva and oral rinses. Xylitol, a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener, is found\nin many of these products and also has the benefit of being anti-cavity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why am I losing my sense of taste?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\nmay find that you are losing your appetite due to a change in your sense of\ntaste. Several factors can cause this change. Besides an age-related decrease\nin the sense of taste and smell, certain diseases, medications and dentures can\ncontribute to a decrease in your sense of taste. You should make your physician\naware of this. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve heard\nabout implants as an alternative to dentures. What should I know about implants?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dental\nimplants can be used in many ways and may offer solutions for patients who\ncannot function adequately with conventional dentures. However, not every\npatient is a candidate for implants. The decision can be made only after a careful\nexamination by your dentist and discussion of the relative benefits and risks\nand what the procedure involves. Ask your dentist if implants may be an option\nfor you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. St. Clair\nmaintains a private dental practice in Rowley and Newburyport dedicated to\nhealth-centered family dentistry. If there are certain topics you would like to\nsee written about or questions you have please email them to him at jpstclair@stclairdmd.com<\/a>.\nYou can view all previously written columns at www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I find that some foods have become difficult to chew and swallow. Do I really need to eat the same amount or variety of food that I did when I was younger? Maintaining proper nutrition is important for everyone, young or old. Many older adults do not eat balanced diets and avoid meats, raw vegetables and fresh fruits because they have trouble chewing or swallowing. These problems can be caused by painful teeth, ill-fitting dentures, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-994","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/994","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=994"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/994\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":998,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/994\/revisions\/998"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=994"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=994"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=994"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}