Dental Care for Seniors: Keeping Your Teeth for Life
- Star Light Dental
- July 16, 2026
- [email protected]
A generation ago, many Australians expected to have dentures by retirement. That has changed. Losing teeth is not a normal part of ageing, and more people than ever are keeping their own teeth for life.
The mouth does change as we get older, though, and the problems of a seventy-year-old are not the same as those of a thirty-year-old. Here is what to watch for and how to stay ahead of it.
1. Dry Mouth: the Hidden Culprit
Saliva is the mouth’s natural protection. It washes away food, neutralises acid and helps repair early damage. Hundreds of common medications reduce it, including many for blood pressure, depression, allergies, pain and bladder control, and the effect adds up when several are taken together.
A dry mouth can turn a lifetime of healthy teeth into a run of new cavities in a year or two. Sip water often, chew sugar-free gum, avoid sucking on sweets to moisten your mouth, and tell us. Our article on dry mouth has more detail.
2. Decay at the Gumline
As gums recede with age, the roots of the teeth are exposed. Root surfaces have no enamel, so they decay much faster than the crown of the tooth, particularly in a dry mouth. Root decay is now one of the main reasons older adults lose teeth.
A soft brush, gentle technique and a high-fluoride toothpaste make a real difference. Ask us whether a high-strength fluoride toothpaste would suit you.
3. Gum Disease, Old Fillings and Worn Teeth
- Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. It is also linked with diabetes and heart disease, so healthy gums matter well beyond the mouth.
- Fillings and crowns placed decades ago eventually wear, crack or leak. Catching that early usually means a simple repair. See our article on old silver fillings.
- Teeth become more brittle and cracks more common, especially in teeth with large fillings.
4. Tell Us About Your Health and Medications
Please bring an up-to-date list of your medications to every visit. It genuinely changes how we treat you. It is especially important to tell us if you take:
- blood thinners, before any extraction or gum treatment
- medication for osteoporosis, whether tablets or injections, because some of these affect how the jawbone heals after an extraction
- medication for diabetes, or if you have a heart condition, a joint replacement or are having cancer treatment
Do not stop any medication before a dental visit unless your doctor tells you to.
5. Making Daily Care Easier
- An electric toothbrush does much of the work if arthritis makes brushing difficult.
- Interdental brushes with handles are far easier than floss.
- If you wear dentures, take them out at night and have the fit checked regularly. See denture care and relines.
- If you care for someone with dementia or limited mobility, ask us to show you how to help with their brushing. A clean mouth also lowers the risk of chest infections.
6. Help with the Cost
- If you hold a Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, you are eligible for NSW public dental care and may be issued a voucher to use with us. See how NSW dental vouchers work.
- We accept all health funds and claim on the spot.
- Medipay and Afterpay payment plans are available.
Keep up your check-ups even if you have no natural teeth. We check the fit of your dentures and the lining of your mouth, including a screen for sores that are not healing.
Easy to Get To, Easy to Get Into
Star Light Dental is inside Hoxton Park Central on Lyn Parade, Prestons, next to MediPharm Medical Centre, with parking at the door and disabled access. Dr Maher Farag has 34 years of experience and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Prosthodontics. Call (02) 9432 2833 or book online.