As the years go by, you can expect your body to change in certain ways. Maybe your hearing isn’t what it used to be, or your hair has turned gray. You may have noticed that aging can also affect your smile. Your risk for certain oral health problems increases as you get older. Want to learn some easy dental hygiene tips to keep your smile healthy? Read on as a dentist for seniors tells you what you need to know.
The Oral Health Problems That Advanced Age Can Cause
Even if you had a perfectly healthy smile in your younger years, the wear and tear your teeth have faced throughout your life can result in certain challenges. Watch out for these problems:
- Sensitive teeth – Enamel (the hard material on the outside of your teeth) naturally thins as you get older. This exposes more of the sensitive layer of dentin underneath it.
- Dry mouth – Dry mouth is not directly correlated with old age, but many chronic conditions and medications can cause it.
- Gum disease – If harmful bacteria accumulate in the mouth, they can inflame the gum tissue. Gum disease has been linked with tooth loss as well as overall health issues like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
The good news is that none of these developments are guaranteed to occur as you age. There are ways to prevent and respond to them.
Dental Hygiene Tips for Seniors
To keep your smile in good shape as you age, follow these tips:
- Brush and floss daily – Ideally, you should clean your teeth and gums after each meal, but twice a day is fine.
- Rinse with mouthwash – Using an antibacterial mouthwash minimizes plaque buildup in your mouth.
- Avoid tobacco – Whether you chew it or smoke it, tobacco more than doubles your risk for gum disease.
- Limit your sugar intake – Harmful oral bacteria use leftover sugar particles on your teeth to cause cavities and infections.
- Drink plenty of water – A dry mouth is the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive and multiply. To increase your saliva production and wash away these bacteria, be sure to sip water throughout the day.
- Keep up with your routine dental visits – Seeing your dentist every three to six months is the best way to keep oral health problems at bay. If they spot any early warning signs, they can address issues while treatment is more likely to be successful (and cost-effective).
Just because you’re in your twilight years doesn’t necessarily mean your smile has to suffer. By asking your local dentist for seniors for advice, you can keep your smile in great condition for years to come!
About the Author
At Paraiso Family Dental and Orthodontics, Dr. Gary Chaffee provides outstanding dental care for patients of all ages in the Newbury Park, CA community. He earned his dental doctorate in 1975 from the Loma Linda University School of Dentistry. To learn more dental hygiene tips for seniors, visit his website or call (805) 480-0033.