A handful of individuals assume that gum disease and tooth loss are inevitable as they age. But what if we told you that you have the capacity to secure your oral health as you age? What if we told you that you’re not searching for dentures?
Here are some tips that will assist you keep your teeth strong and healthy as you age. We will also talk about how to secure your teeth so that you can maintain good overall health.
Brush and Floss Every Day
It is important that you brush your teeth twice a day and floss once daily. Doing this will help eliminate plaque.
Plaque is an invisible film of bacteria that resides inside your mouth. As it absorbs sugar, it creates an acid that erodes your tooth enamel and attacks your gums.
Even if you wear dentures, then it is important that you keep brushing your gums and any remaining teeth. That way, you will help stop plaque from building up inside your mouth and causing difficulties.
Manage Dry Mouth
It is not unusual for older adults to experience dry mouth due to certain medications. While it may seem strange to think about, saliva helps wash away bacteria and food particles. With less saliva, you may be more vulnerable to oral health issues. This is the reason it’s important to make certain that you’re drinking enough water.
If you experience dry mouththen let us dentists know during your next appointment. They’ll be able to recommend products that will assist you manage dry mouth. Taking care of oral health issues as they arise can help you maintain a strong, healthy smile.
Take Adequate Care of Your Gums
Although this blog article is about how to keep your teeth it is important to understand that your teeth are part of an interconnected system. In this way, taking care of your teeth may also help you maintain healthy teeth.
Schedule an appointment with us if you have bleeding, sore, or swollen gums. The sooner we discover gum disease, the sooner we can help you reestablish your oral health.
While gingivitis (gum inflammation) is reversible, we can’t say the same about periodontitis. Periodontitis is a severe gum infection. Even though a dentist can manage the symptoms of periodontitis through scaling and root planing, they can’t reverse the issue.
The very best way to take care of your teeth is to brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. This can keep down the amount of plaque in your mouth, which will help prevent gum disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 64.7 million Americans have periodontitis! The fantastic news is that this problem is preventable as long as you practice good oral hygiene.
Having healthy teeth will help encourage and hold your teeth in place so you’re less likely to losing your teeth as you age. If you wear dentures, then having healthy gums will also help encourage your oral appliance so you can eat and talk with ease.
Quit Smoking
Were you aware that smoking suppresses your immune system? It also suppresses the body’s natural ability to heal itself. This makes it harder for the body to fight bacteria that can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
If you smoke, then you also have a higher risk of getting oral and/or throat cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 53,000 Americans may get oral and/or throat cancer this year. Fortunately, dentists offer oral cancer screenings to find this illness early. An oral cancer screening can save your life!