Oral Health as We Age
With age comes wisdom. Since you experience more in life as you grow, this statement rings true for most. On the other hand, your teeth have a different story. As one matures and ages, so do your teeth. Unfortunately this can lead to such problems as periodontal disease, receding gums, and the like. As is evident, oral health as we age can present some challenges.
How can we work against and discourage such issues in oral health as we age? Thankfully, toothloss is not inevitable! In fact, there are quite a few options you can take advantage of to help with oral health care as we age. Doing so will increase the chances of your teeth having a lifetime guarantee.
Dry mouth
As little kids, we produced a whole lot of saliva. But as one ages, there are many factors that can lead to a lack of saliva. For example, hundreds of medications have a side effect of dry mouth. Since older adults often use medication, this can cause a problem. Further, certain diseases experienced by seniors cause dry mouth. This can be detrimental to oral health as we age since saliva clears away bacteria in the mouth, prevents bad breath, protects tooth enamel, and much more.
Options to help your mouth produce more saliva are as follows: chewing sugar-free gum, sucking on sugar-free cough drops, and drinking more water. To add to this, there are even artificial saliva options.
Gum Disease
Also known as Periodontal Disease, Gum Disease can create serious issues. There are two existing forms:
1. Gingivitis- this is when the gums become swollen and bleed easily. However, this is easily preventable with good oral hygiene!
2. Periodontitis- the more serious form of gum disease, Periodontitis can cause the gums to loosen around the teeth. This creates gaps, or pockets, in which infection flourishes. If left untreated, bacteria can spread, attacking the soft tissue and bone. As a result, the teeth become unstable and may have to be removed.
Tips
Thankfully, both are preventable, even as you age. Here are some tips from:
- Brush twice a day
- Floss regularly to remove plaque from between teeth
- Visit the dentist regularly for a check-up and professional cleaning
- Don’t smoke or use chewing tobacco or snuff
- Eat a well-balanced diet
As you can see, good oral health as we age is achievable! Swing by our office, Rancho Dental, to ensure your smile will last a lifetime.