Introduction
Dental hygiene is vital for people of any age. But senior dental care has no competition at all. Your oral health should be a top priority, along with other health issues. And that’s why you need to know about senior dental care tips.
Thus, it would be best if you took different measures to keep your teeth healthy. This article focuses on the importance of dental care in seniors. And in the end, we have enlisted 7 effective dental care tips for every older citizen out there.
So, without further ado, let’s start brushing for oral hygiene.
Reasons Why Senior Dental Care Should Be a Priority
Routine dental care is absolutely crucial for every senior. It can help prevent common dental problems. Also, a healthy mouth is an indication of a healthy lifestyle. Seniors can enjoy good food and eat better.
Thus, senior dental care is an integral part of their daily lives. Here are a few reasons why you need to make oral hygiene a top priority right away.
Tooth decay
Bacteria causes plaque in your teeth. This, in return, harms the tooth enamel and you will notice cavities in your tooth. Seniors are at high risk of tooth decay due to dry mouth. And the dry mouth is a side effect of asthma, depression or high blood pressure.
Gum disease
Another name for severe gum disease is periodontitis. Such a tooth issue can cause bleeding, sore tooth, chewing issues, tooth loss and other problems. You will need to have a proper dental care plan to prevent gum disease from ever occurring.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2 out of 3 seniors over 65 years old can have gum disease. And they might not even notice it in the first place
Did you know?
Tooth loss
Another common problem from not seeking dental help for seniors is tooth loss. Tooth loss can lead to malnutrition for seniors. This is because they are not able to eat properly when they don’t have enough teeth.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 out of 5 adults over 65 years have lost all their teeth
Key fact
Diabetes
Controlling blood sugar is absolutely necessary for seniors and dental care. Their chances of inflammation and gum disease increase due to this. The reason is that too much sugar helps bacteria to grow inside the mouth. Thus, seniors can also opt for sugar alternative foods for better oral health.
Pneumonia
Smoking can deteriorate oral hygiene for older adults. This also increases the risks of bacterial pneumonia. And the bacteria can easily travel to the lungs causing several lung diseases. Thus they need dental assistance for senior citizens to prevent this from happening.
Oral cancer
Older adults are at a massive risk of oral cancer. And the risks are even higher for seniors with the habit of chewing tobacco or smoking cigarettes. They need dental treatment immediately to detect and prevent oral cancer.
7 Most Effective Senior Dental Care Tips
Taking care of your teeth is essential when you get old. Going to the dentist is the most critical thing you can do. Apart from that, there are several other things to maintain as well. Here are 10 tips to keep your mouth and teeth in top shape.
Regular dentist checkup
We know going to the dentist can be expensive. But as you age, so does your vulnerability increase to tooth decay. You will face many problems related to your teeth. So, consider going to senior dental care centers near you for regular checkups.
Follow a balanced diet
Just like any part of your body, your teeth also need proper nutrition. You can escape gum and cavity problems if you maintain a balanced diet. This can include healthy snacks, non-acidic fruits, green vegetables, and lean protein.
Give up smoking
Tobacco chewing and smoking cigarettes or pipes can even cause dental cancer. So, it is high time you give up smoking. And trust me, you’re not alone in this. Your dentist can guide you through several techniques to stop smoking.
article reprinted with permission of Boomers Hub
