Oral Health›Life stages

Looking After Your Mouth in Older Age

Dry mouth from medicines, receding gums and decay on exposed roots become more common with age, and many people wear dentures. Here is how to manage each one, and how to help someone who can no longer clean their own teeth.

Updated September 2026·By the OHA editorial team·7 min read·How we write
Key takeaways
  • Dry mouth is not a normal part of ageing. It is often a side effect of medicines, and it raises the risk of tooth decay, so get it checked.
  • If your gums have receded, the exposed roots can decay. Fluoride toothpaste twice a day and regular check-ups help protect them.
  • Take dentures out to clean them every morning and night, never with toothpaste, and do not sleep in them unless your dentist advises it.
  • Keep seeing a dentist even if you have no natural teeth: they check denture fit and look for signs of mouth cancer.
  • See a GP or dentist about a mouth ulcer, lump, or red or white patch that has not healed within 2 to 3 weeks.

Gum disease and dry mouth are not an inevitable part of getting older, according to the US National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), but tooth decay can develop at any age for as long as you have natural teeth. Medicines, receding gums and dentures do bring particular risks.

Dry mouth and medicines

The NIDCR explains that saliva washes food away from the teeth, helps with chewing and swallowing, and contains minerals that help keep teeth strong. Without enough of it (a condition called xerostomia), the risk of tooth decay and fungal infections in the mouth goes up.

Both the NIDCR and the American Dental Association say that dry mouth is not a normal part of ageing. Common causes include:

  • Medicines. The NIDCR says hundreds of medicines can reduce saliva, including those for high blood pressure, depression and bladder control. The American Dental Association puts the number at more than 500.
  • Dehydration. The NIDCR notes that older adults are more prone to it.
  • Health conditions such as diabetes and Sjögren's syndrome, and cancer treatment, especially radiotherapy to the head and neck (NHS, NIDCR, Australian Dental Association).

What helps

  • Sip water regularly through the day and with meals, and keep water by the bed (NHS, NIDCR).
  • Chew sugar-free gum or suck sugar-free sweets to get saliva flowing (NHS, NIDCR, Australian Dental Association).
  • Cut down on alcohol, caffeine and fizzy drinks, and do not smoke (NHS, NIDCR).
  • Ask a pharmacist about moisturising gels, sprays or lozenges. The NHS advises against acidic saliva substitutes if you have your own teeth.
  • Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own. The NHS and the Australian Dental Association both say to talk to your doctor first, who may be able to change the medicine or dose.

Because decay can develop faster in a dry mouth, the Australian Dental Association suggests a high-fluoride toothpaste, which it says is available from pharmacies and some dental clinics rather than supermarkets. The American Dental Association and the NIDCR say your dentist may also apply a fluoride varnish or gel.

Receding gums and root decay

Gum recession is when the gums pull back from the teeth, exposing part of the root. The NIDCR says exposed roots are vulnerable to decay, as are teeth with chipped fillings. It advises brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste (just as helpful for adults as for children), cleaning between the teeth and regular dental visits.

Gum disease is not inevitable

Gum disease (periodontal disease) is caused by plaque, the sticky film of bacteria on teeth. The NIDCR explains that the mild form, gingivitis (red, swollen gums that bleed easily), can be reversed with good cleaning, while the more serious form, periodontitis, damages the bone and tissue holding the teeth, which can become loose. The American Dental Association points out that gum disease is often painless until it is advanced, and the NIDCR says smoking is one of the most significant risk factors.

Dentures: cleaning and fit

Our full guide to dentures goes into more detail, including where the different health bodies disagree on overnight storage.

The NHS and the Australian Dental Association give similar cleaning advice:

  1. Take your dentures out and brush them every morning and night with soap (the NHS says soft soap or washing-up liquid; the Australian Dental Association says liquid hand soap).
  2. Do not use toothpaste on dentures. Both say it can damage them.
  3. Clean them over a bowl of water or a towel, in case you drop them.
  4. Brush your gums, tongue and any remaining teeth with fluoride toothpaste (NHS).

Do not sleep in your dentures unless your dentist advises it. The NHS says trapped food raises the risk of gum infections and decay, and there is a risk of choking.

Advice on how to store dentures overnight differs. The NHS says to keep them in water, a polythene bag with damp cotton wool, or a denture-cleaning solution. The NIDCR also says to keep them in water whenever they are out of the mouth. The Australian Dental Association says to put them in a dry, safe place after cleaning. Ask your dentist or dental prosthetist which suits your dentures.

When dentures stop fitting

The NHS explains that dentures can become loose as your gums and jawbone change shape with age. See a dentist if they click when you talk, slip, cause pain, or are worn or broken. The Australian Dental Association says older dentures can sometimes be refitted, or may need replacing, and the NIDCR adds that a dry mouth can make dentures rub and cause sore spots.

Keep having check-ups even if you have no natural teeth. The Australian Dental Association says your dentist will check the soft tissues of your mouth for signs of oral cancer and for problems linked to dentures, such as oral thrush.

Mouth cancer checks

The NIDCR says the chance of mouth and throat cancer increases with age. The NHS lists smoking or chewing tobacco, betel nut or paan, and drinking a lot of alcohol among the things that make it more likely.

The NIDCR says pain may not be an early symptom, so know the signs. The NHS lists:

  • a mouth ulcer that lasts more than 3 weeks
  • a red or white patch inside the mouth
  • a lump in the mouth, on the lip, or in the neck or throat
  • pain in the mouth that does not go away
  • difficulty swallowing or speaking, or a hoarse voice
  • losing weight without trying

The NIDCR adds numbness in the mouth and, in denture wearers, jaw swelling that makes dentures feel as if they no longer fit.

Sources give slightly different timescales. The NHS says to see a GP or dentist about an ulcer that has lasted more than 3 weeks, while the NIDCR and the American Dental Association say to get symptoms that last more than 2 weeks checked. The NHS says these symptoms are common and can have other causes, but finding cancer early may make it easier to treat.

Helping someone who cannot clean their own teeth

See also caring for someone else's teeth and dementia and oral health.

The American Dental Association says the two most important things are daily mouth cleaning and regular dental visits. It notes that for people confined to bed, bacteria from the mouth can be inhaled and cause pneumonia.

The NIDCR's advice for carers includes:

  • Encourage them to do what they can. Leave the brush and toothpaste by the sink, put the toothpaste on for them, or brush your own teeth alongside them. You can gently guide their hand.
  • Make the brush easier to hold by widening the handle, or try a powered brush.
  • If you need to brush for them, sit them upright, wash your hands, wear disposable gloves and remove any dentures. Use a soft brush and a small amount of fluoride toothpaste, angled towards the gumline in small circles, then brush the tongue. If toothpaste bothers them, use water instead.
  • Explain as you go ("tell, show, do"), and keep to the same time and place each day.

In England, NICE guidance says care home residents should have their mouth care needs assessed when they move in and recorded in their care plan, with daily support to brush natural teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and to clean and remove dentures overnight.

When to see a dentist
  • Your mouth is still dry after a few weeks of trying home or pharmacy remedies, or you think a medicine is causing it (the NHS suggests seeing a GP).
  • Your gums are very red or bleed, or you have bad breath, which the NHS says can be signs of gum disease, a fungal infection or decay.
  • Your dentures are loose, click, rub, cause pain or are damaged.
  • You have a mouth ulcer, lump, or red or white patch that has not healed within 2 to 3 weeks.
  • Someone you care for is eating less or struggling to eat, which the American Dental Association says can be a sign of denture problems.
Get help urgently
  • Swelling of the face or jaw, a high temperature, or intense tooth or gum pain may be a dental abscess, which the NHS says needs an urgent dental appointment or a call to NHS 111 (or your local equivalent).
  • Call 999 (or your local emergency number) if someone is finding it hard to breathe, speak or swallow, or has a lot of swelling in the mouth.

Frequently asked questions

Is gum disease just part of getting older?

No. The NIDCR says gum disease can be prevented, and that thorough brushing, flossing and regular professional cleaning reduce your risk as you age.

Do I still need a dentist if I have full dentures?

Yes. The Australian Dental Association says regular check-ups matter even if all your teeth are replaced, because the mouth changes shape over time and your dentist checks for signs of oral cancer and denture-related problems.

Can I use toothpaste to clean my dentures?

No. The NHS and the Australian Dental Association say it can damage them. Use soap and a soft brush.

Sources

  1. Dry mouth, NHS, accessed September 2026
  2. Dentures (false teeth), NHS, accessed September 2026
  3. Symptoms of mouth cancer, NHS, accessed September 2026
  4. Causes of mouth cancer, NHS, accessed September 2026
  5. Dental abscess, NHS, accessed September 2026
  6. Oral health for adults in care homes (NG48): recommendations, NICE, accessed September 2026
  7. Dry mouth, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  8. Dentures, Australian Dental Association, accessed September 2026
  9. Dry mouth, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, accessed September 2026
  10. Older adults and oral health (PDF), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, accessed September 2026
  11. Brushing: information for caregivers (PDF), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, accessed September 2026
  12. Dental health concerns: adults over 60, American Dental Association (MouthHealthy), accessed September 2026

This article is general information about oral health. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a dentist or doctor who knows your situation. If you have pain, swelling, bleeding that does not settle, or a problem that is getting worse, see a dental professional. In an emergency, contact your local emergency service.

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