What Are The Best Ways For Seniors To Look After Their Dental Health
Oral health is important for everyone at all stages of one’s life. Nevertheless, everyone ages one day at a time, and before you know it, enough years have passed by, and we find ourselves at the ripe old age of the elderly.
If you or a loved one is a senior, it’s critical that dental health becomes a priority. As our bodies age, we undergo numerous changes within. We develop ailments and become more susceptible to certain conditions that our younger, more physically healthy selves don’t experience at the same rate.
Like our bodies, our mouths – including gums and teeth – endure the same age-related problems.
Common health issues among the elderly
As a senior, one may experience several dental health problems. These include:
- Dry Mouth
- Diminished Sense Of Taste
- Discoloured Teeth
- Gum Disease
- Loss Of Teeth
- Uneven Jawbone
- Root Canal Issues
- Sensitive Teeth
Of course, younger patients can experience any of these issues as well. Similarly, not all older patients will experience all or any of them. However, they do tend to become more prevalent as we age and our bodies begin to degrade.
Fortunately, our dentists can help reduce the risk of any of these health issues developing with five simple oral health tips.
5 Best Ways For Seniors To Look After Their Dental Health
- Increase Your Levels Of Hydration
Drinking enough water is always important for one’s health, including oral health. The older you are, the more important it is that you consciously consider how well-hydrated you are. The more water you drink, the more your mouth flushes away any harmful bacteria and neutralises the acidity levels.
Remember: Drink water to increase levels of hydration, not sugary drinks or alcohol.
- Boost Your Oral Care Regime
Do you brush your teeth every day, twice a day and for at least 2 minutes?
Do you floss after meals?
Do you replace your toothbrush regularly?
The better you are with your oral care regime, the better your oral health will be. Simple changes, such as switching to an electric toothbrush which is more effective at brushing away food particles and removing plaque, can make a big difference to staving off health problems.
- Use Antibacterial Mouthwash
Good bacteria help to keep your mouth healthy. But bad bacteria are your oral hygiene’s worst enemy. Brushing and flossing regularly is important, but it can only do so much when it comes to removing harmful bacteria. Rinsing your mouth with antibacterial mouthwash is a great habit to get into to improve your oral hygiene.
- Maintain Recommended Calcium Levels
Our calcium levels diminish as we get older, and considering the essential nature of calcium to our body’s health, getting the recommended levels each day needs to be prioritised. Calcium supplements or dietary changes can offset the age-related reduction in our calcium levels.
Introduce more food with high calcium content, such as:
- Cheese
- Yoghurt
- Leafy greens
- Fortified breakfast cereals
- Visit Your Dentist Regularly
As with the other suggestions in this list, this last method for preventing oral health issues isn’t only applicable to the elderly. Frequent hygiene appointments at the dentist are critical to prevent disease and degradation.
Prevention is always better, easier, more effective and cheaper than cures. So, make sure you visit your dentist for regular check-ups.
Book your next oral health check-up with Dental O So Gentle
Our team of highly professional and experienced dentists and hygienists are committed to ensuring our patients practise strong oral health habits so that they can age as gracefully as possible. And we’d love to help you!
