The Importance of Dental Hygiene As You Age

Smiling is part of who you are and makes a difference to people around you. Perhaps you may feel better about yourself with a pretty, healthy set of teeth and maybe even a more ‘wholesome’ personality. You will find no one who does not like to have beautiful teeth. As a teenager, you probably had orthopedic work done to improve the looks and appearance of your teeth.

Still, you need help with your smile as you grow older. Caring for our teeth as we age can save us many problems which are not only cosmetic. Dental hygiene is even more important as you grow older. Establishing great dental care practices negates future chances of having teeth and other health complications.

How Does Aging Affect Our Teeth?

The reality of life is that as we grow older, our bodies develop some illnesses that were never a concern when we were young. This can apply to our teeth and gums as well. Many of these dental issues in seniors are also easy to diagnose, treat, and sometimes avoid once you know the symptoms.

Listed below are some of the few things about senior oral health that one needs to know:

Attrition
Attrition then means wear and tear, which your teeth experience a lot from time to time as this is a part of the teeth that helps you chew your foods, speak, and go about your normal activities. Natural wear and tear, such as wear from use, food consumption, grinding, and other general wear and tear, will gradually affect your teeth. As your healthy enamel demineralizes over time, it exposes your teeth to even more degeneration and cavities.

Dry Mouth
It must also be understood that the natural aging process per se does not predispose to the aggravation of symptoms of dry mouth. However, some things that accompany it can do so, including illnesses you have, drugs you may use, and the like. If you have a dry mouth, it may suggest matters requiring your dentist’s attention in the future.

Gum Disease
Gum disease is among the severe conditions that result in tooth loss in adults. Commonly known as gum disease, this is a dental ailment that results from the formation of plaque on the teeth and failure to remove it properly. The signs of gum disease are reddening, swelling, bleeding, stench, pain, and hyperesthesia of teeth, which is avoidable with regular oral hygiene. Another common ailment related to the gums is similarly easily treatable if diagnosed during its early stages.

Sensitivity
Some also report that this is often more of a case because of their dwindling age. Gums tend to shrink back as we get older, and when that happens, sections of the tooth that are partly shielded by enamel are exposed. Occasionally, pain is even a signal that there are complications like a cavity, a cracked or a fractured tooth.

Tooth Root Decay
As a consequence of gum disease, the gums start to pull away from your teeth over the years, and your teeth roots become visible. This results in tooth decay progressing at a faster rate, and this will lead to several hard-to-treat dental complications that will require the intervention of a dentist.

Tips for Senior Oral Health

Of course, maintaining oral health for seniors looks a lot like it does for folks at any age, and keeping your teeth and gums in prime condition just takes a little effort. Combat dental problems that can become more likely with age through the following practices:

• Brush and floss daily: From this perspective, you should brush your teeth twice or more each day and spend two minutes doing this with toothpaste approved by the Food and Drug Administration that contains fluoride.
• See your dentist regularly: Make a point of visiting the dentist occasionally, but you never know what he or she will find. Dental check-ups and dental X-rays are an important aspect of dental care; it is always more efficient to prevent than to treat.
• Rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouth rinse: You might not use mouthwash regularly, but you should start using it. Swishing with oral rinse may also help lose plaque and kill bacteria that may cause other problems. Furthermore, it clears your mouth to give you a breath that has no smell.
• Avoid tobacco use: Cigarette smoking and other tobacco products have been associated with oral and throat cancer, as well as with other illnesses. It can even increase more harm in the mouth, such as chewing tobacco.
• Avoid too much sweets: Candies, soft, predictable drinks, and foods with sugar and starch are also detrimental to the teeth. Regarding these foods, be conscious of how frequently you are consuming the items, and when possible, attempt to brush your teeth.
• Up your calcium intake: According to the American Dental Association, elderly people require 1000 mg of calcium daily to avoid osteoporosis, which may impact the bone surrounding your teeth.
• Take care of your dentures: If you are one of the lucky people who use dentures, it goes without saying that they have unique needs. You must adhere to all of the instructions that your dentist gave you on how to clean and maintain your dentures and consult if there is a problem.

The proper name for the gum tissue that is sore, shiny, red, and swollen is gingivitis, which is caused by plaque on your teeth. If left untreated, it leads to gingivitis, which affects the bone and muscle that holds the teeth. The first sign that you are experiencing gingivitis is that your teeth will appear slightly red, and you’ll bleed a little when brushing and flossing the teeth. This can lead to tooth loss, which is normally very avoidable.

Wrapping Up

You can prevent this catastrophe by maintaining good dental health throughout your senior years and making regular appointments with your physician and oral hygienist. Furthermore, this might encourage plaque growth in parts of your mouth that are difficult to clean with a toothbrush or floss. Contrary to popular belief, braces can be worn by people of various ages, not only teenagers. If your teeth are beginning to overlap and cluster, you may need to talk to your dentist.

You can prevent serious problems in your later years if you follow the above advice and see your dentist at Benbrook Dentist TX regularly. Additionally, you can use this method to assist your elderly family members.