Aging is often associated with tooth decay and even loss, but not necessarily. If you take good care of your chompers in advance, you can rest assured your teeth will stay strong, healthy and white. To know exactly how to treat your teeth as you age, here’s a little guide to rely on, full of useful and easy tips on dental health:
Oral problems that come with age
Before you know how to battle oral issues, you first need to know who your enemy is. Usually, people over 50 and 60 start reporting issues like mouth dryness, ill-fitting dental appliances and various tooth and mouth pain. These issues can appear due to certain medications you take, but also simply due to age. With time, your jaw changes, and you experience a slight loss of muscle and bone, all of which can cause your dentures or other appliances to sit weirdly. Also, with age comes shrinking of the tooth nerve which results in lower initial sensitivity. Due to that phenomenon, you’re less likely to notice decay in time which equals much larger damage.
Proper tooth care in senior years
It’s crucial to pay special attention to your teeth with age, even though at this time, many people start to neglect their teeth. With only a few tips, you can ensure healthy teeth, fresh breath and strong bite that make eating a true joy.
Regular exams
Probably the most important tip for healthy teeth is regular attention from a dental expert. Thanks to these appointments, your dentist can catch signs of disease early and take action to remove any threats before they damage your teeth and mouth. Some people are very irresponsible here, and we should all look up to Australians—around 50% of them have a regular yearly checkup with their health provider. And of course, it’s important to give your trust to an experienced dentist with good dental partners. Once again, Aussies have an advantage because they can find a dentist working closely with a respected dental lab in Australia, and together, they can solve any issue. The dental lab provides top-notch materials and tools while the dentist provides their services—it’s a perfect partnership you should join as soon as possible.
Proper brushing
As a kid, you were thought to brush at least two times a day and your dentist will definitely insist on flossing as well. It only takes a minute to brush your teeth and another minute to floss, so there’s no way you don’t have time for this healthy habit. If you notice that your brush is irritating your gums, try to replace it with a soft one and get more gentle natural toothpaste. Regular brushing and flossing will remove bacteria, food leftovers and sugar from your teeth, ensuring long and healthy life and look of your teeth and gums.
Healthy dental food
Some foods are horrible for the health of your teeth. We all know that candy is not good for oral health, but so is coffee, tea, wine, blueberries and other staining food. Some of these will just stain your teeth but others can cause serious damage if you eat too much. If you can’t give up foods that harm your teeth, you can at least practice brushing and flossing after every snack on these foods. On the other hand, there are foods that improve your dental health, such as apples, celery, cucumber, etc. Basically, crunchy and watery foods are very beneficial, but so are certain calcium-rich foods that feed your teeth and make them strong.
Plenty of hydration
Hydration is key to healthy flora in the mouth. It prevents dry mouth and allows flushing of bacteria and removal of leftover food. Proper hydration is, of course, crucial for many more things, but this is also one of the factors why you should always have a bottle of water by your side. In the morning, make sure to have a larger glass of water to rehydrate your mouth and start the day on the right foot.
Consultation with your doctor
In case you’re taking certain medications, they can endanger your dental health. If that’s the case, consult with your doctor so you can find replacement medication that won’t affect your oral health as much.
If you practice these tips and educate yourself on the dangers for your teeth that can come with age, you have a great chance of having a dazzling smile long into the future.
This guest post was graciously provided by Diana Smith. Diana is a full time mom of two beautiful girls interested in alternative medicine and latest DIY projects. In her free time she enjoys exercising and preparing healthy meals for her family.
