How Does Your Age Affect Oral Health?
The most common chronic disease affecting American children is tooth decay, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also reports that about 47.2% of adults age 30 and older have periodontitis. These facts reveal what we always tell our patients: oral health is important at any age.
Our dentists in Shelby Township welcome patients of all ages. Our team wants to make sure that you develop good oral hygiene habits that will protect your teeth and gums for a lifetime.
Babies
The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends you take your child to the dentist within 6 months of them getting their first tooth or by their first birthday.
Introduce your child to the dentist early. That way, they’ll grow to feel comfortable in the dentist’s chair and develop a relationship with us that is built on trust. In return, we’ll teach you and your child how they can maintain a healthy smile for life. We would be more than happy to help your child build a strong foundation for good oral health.
Juniors
Dental plaque is an invisible film of bacteria that lives in your child’s mouth, feeding on any sugar left behind. Plaque also likes to hide where toothbrush bristles can’t reach. For example, cavities are more likely to form in the small cracks and divots on the chewing surface of your child’s molars.
A dental sealant is a thin plastic coating that seals small cracks and divots in a back tooth. What’s more, our dentists can apply sealants during your child’s next teeth cleaning with us. The procedure is fast, painless, and prevents cavities in the long run.
Teenagers
Wisdom teeth erupt between the ages of 17 and 25. During your teen’s appointment, we’ll take x-rays to get a better look at their wisdom teeth as they form in the jawbone. We may recommend extracting wisdom teeth if they are coming in at an angle or if your child simply doesn’t have enough room in their jaw to accommodate the extra teeth.
Patients are able to live perfectly normal lives without wisdom teeth. However, it’s important to remove impacted wisdom teeth before they erupt. Otherwise, they could push straight healthy teeth out of the way as they emerge through the gum line.
Teenagers may have a higher risk of using tobacco products out of peer pressure, which can increase their risk of getting oral cancer later in life. Tobacco will also stain your teenager’s teeth over time.
Adults
Do you have sore, bleeding gums? If so, let our dentists know so they can help you avoid the more serious effects of gum disease. While gingivitis is reversible through good oral hygiene, the same can’t be said once it progresses into periodontitis.
47.2% of adults age 30 and older have periodontitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Like we mentioned earlier, periodontitis is the advanced form of gum disease. It also can’t be reversed.
Once you have periodontitis, the only thing we can do for you is help manage your symptoms so they don’t worsen. We offer scaling and root planing to remove plaque that gets caught in deep gum pockets around your teeth. Our dentists then smooth out your tooth roots so receding gums have a better chance of reattaching to teeth.
Teeth are supported by your gums, jawbone, and other teeth. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to your oral health. Once you lose a tooth or develop gum disease, you increase your risk of further tooth loss. The best way to prevent these issues is to brush your teeth twice a day, floss once daily, and see one of our dentists at least every 6 months.
Learn more: Are you brushing your teeth right? >>
Call Frank P. Ruffino DDS
Our are accepting new patients! To request an appointment with Frank P. Ruffino DDS or our other dentists, call (586) 799-4240. We hope to hear from you soon!
