With age comes experience -- and changes in teeth and gums. Seniors need to keep up-to-date on oral health, especially because they're at an increased risk for certain dental problems.

Gum disease is a frequent cause for concern in seniors. It's the most common reason for tooth loss in older people, but it can be treated easily and effectively by following a daily regimen of brushing and flossing to eliminate plaque and bacteria.

Xerostomia, usually known as "dry mouth," is another condition which appears frequently in seniors. It occurs when the salivary glands cease to function properly and don't produce enough liquid to hydrate the mouth. Drinking extra water and avoiding tobacco and sugary foods can help ease dry mouth.

Seniors need checkups just as frequently as young people--and having dentures doesn't mean that the dentist can be ignored. Talk to us about your concerns. We'll be happy to help you adjust to any changes in your teeth, and advise you on how to protect your oral health in the years to come.

...they're not really clean unless they're flossed each day. Despite all the brushing, there are colonies of bacteria thriving in your mouth! What are you doing wrong? Skipping the floss.

As much as you may not like to do it, flossing is important. It loosens and removes particles of food and plaque between your teeth where your toothbrush can't reach. Even the most diligent of brushers and devout users of dental irrigators can't forego the flossing.

If you can't floss every day, even once or twice a week will improve the condition of your teeth and gums.

Flossing time doesn't need to be spent in front of the bathroom mirror, either; you can do it while watching TV or relaxing in other ways. Of course, flossing right before bed every night is ideal, but starting any kind of regular flossing routine is an improvement.

Both tooth decay and periodontal disease can start between your teeth and on your gumline. But if you're armed with just one tiny box of floss, you can fight back.

We take taste buds for granted, but they're more complicated than you might think. Different taste buds are in charge of different kinds of taste, and they're grouped together and located on separate parts of the tongue. For example, the taste buds which identify sweetness are at the tip of your tongue, and the ones which identify bitterness are at the back.

Each taste bud is actually a cluster of 100 specialized cells, but just a few of these cells are exposed at once. Taste buds only live about ten days each.

Chemically speaking, taste buds are very advanced. Every taste bud responds to different stimuli, and each cell within each taste bud responds to specific stimuli.

In fact, some taste buds respond to multiple stimuli and some are limited to a single one. After a taste bud records a taste, its receptors send a signal to the brain so it can be recognized and identified with the stimulus.

Taste depends upon a large number of variables, especially age: a 20-year-old can have up to 10,000 taste buds, but after age 45 the number of taste buds begin to diminish. Most elderly people have about 6,500; however, the reduction doesn't normally have a noticeable effect on taste. At any age, enjoy your taste buds!