About 60 years ago, there was a saying that “teeth fall out” – that teeth fall out naturally with age and that it is normal for older people to lose their teeth. In fact, scientific practice has proven this statement to be false, if not absurd. Human teeth, when properly protected, can follow people for the rest of their lives. However, such a scientific concept is still not accepted by the general public, and the backward concept of “losing teeth” is still in circulation today. Although we are not able to keep all the teeth to approach the ideal goal, we should establish scientific oral health care habits to give the teeth a longer service time. The oral cavity is the first gateway to the human body, and the health of the oral cavity is directly related to the overall health and quality of life of the elderly. Some studies have shown that bacteria in an unhealthy oral environment are not only the culprit of harming the teeth and gums themselves, but may also be the cause of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, pneumonia and some other common diseases of the elderly. Therefore, the author would like to sort out some oral health care knowledge for the elderly to help them live a better life. A healthy mouth makes you look young, eat tasty and speak with confidence. Maintaining oral health is an integral part of a high quality of life. Is it better to extract or not to extract problem teeth in the elderly? In our clinical work, we often encounter two groups of people with very different perceptions. One of them thinks that teeth are not a problem as long as they are not painful, and strongly refuses to extract them, thinking that the adjacent teeth will affect the whole row of teeth after extraction, or that it is a pity to extract them because there are only a few teeth left; while the other group of people thinks that it is better to extract the problematic teeth to avoid future problems, and it is a big deal to have a full set of dentures in the future. These two views are extreme, there is some truth, but are not desirable. Some bad teeth with residual crowns and roots, although not painful, may cause ulcers in the oral mucosa, and ulcers that do not heal for a long time are prone to cancer in the elderly population. Some teeth that are not painful at present do not mean that they will not be painful in the future. These teeth are often chronic inflammatory lesions, and with further ageing, resistance decreases and bacterial reproduction increases, and problems can arise again at a later stage, when physical function decreases, and the risk of tooth extraction will be greatly increased. Some elderly people need to take medication for a long time due to the combination of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, and may be tormented by toothache problems due to the high risk of tooth extraction. It is equally undesirable for people who have a hasty attitude towards tooth extraction. Science is advancing, dentists are improving the level of tooth preservation and there is more than just one treatment method to solve toothache. Problematic teeth may be relieved of toothache through sound root canal and periodontal therapy and preserved through appropriate restorative means. In the elderly population, many people have very few teeth left and when they need a veneer, the stability and chewing efficiency of a partial denture can be much better than a full denture if the natural teeth are there to support and rely on. Sometimes a tooth is like a “lifesaver”. Therefore, the correct concept is to communicate with the teeth properly, and make it clear that the teeth that should be extracted should be extracted before it is too late, and the teeth that can be preserved should be preserved with active treatment and care by the doctor to create better conditions for later veneers.