It is important to maintain good dental hygiene as you get older. Having proper dental treatment and practicing good dental hygiene at home are examples of this. As you get older, it’s also necessary to make changes to your dental care and dental hygiene habits so that your efforts are successful and suitable for an older mouth.
“Brushing, flossing & mouthwash are the common things to do for better oral health. But as you age, your teeth need some extra care. Overall, keeping your teeth safe as you grow older necessitates continued vigilance and a willingness to change your routine if required.”- Says Dr. Bhuvaneswari Shanmugam who is working with one of the best dental clinics in Kodambakkam, Chennai.
- Switch to a different toothbrush. Brushing your teeth as you used to can become difficult or ineffective as you get older. As you get older, you can use a brush with soft bristles. Brushing with a regular toothbrush can also be difficult if you have arthritis. According to the dentists, you can either use a toothbrush with an extra long handle or buy an electric toothbrush in this case. A soft toothbrush can help to protect your gums and your teeth’s aging enamel. Brushing with a toothbrush that has a longer handle allows you to hold your arm lower when brushing. With an electric toothbrush, you can brush with less pressure while still having a thorough cleaning.
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- Make sure your mouth doesn’t dry out. Dry mouth is more common as you get older. Changes in your mouth or drugs that trigger dry mouth may be to blame. Since saliva protects teeth from decay and helps clean them, having a dry mouth will affect your dental health. To counteract dry mouth, drink more water and keep it in mouth for some seconds before swallowing. You can also stimulate saliva development by sucking on sugar-free candies or lozenges or chewing sugar-free gum.
- Any medical issues you’re having should be brought up with your dentist. If you acquire medical problems as you get older, tell your dentist because it will affect how they care for your teeth. Diabetes, heart disease, and cancer may all have an effect on your dental health, and your dentist will need to discuss these issues.
- Make sure your dentist is aware of any drugs you’re taking. You’re more likely to take more prescriptions when you get older. Medications may have an effect on your teeth and dental health. Inform your dentist about all of your medicines so that they can take them into account when providing dental treatment. When your dentist is caring for your teeth, drugs that thin the blood, such as aspirin and warfarin, can cause excessive bleeding in the mouth.
- Consider visiting a dentist who specializes in treating the elderly. Some dentists specialize in caring for the oral health of the elderly. This enables them to offer specialist support for the elderly’s unique needs. You will typically find a dentist who specializes in geriatric dentistry, or dental treatment for the elderly, on the website of a specialty dental association or via a recommendation from your original dentist.
- Every three to six months, have your teeth cleaned. As you get older, it’s important to get daily dental cleanings. It will not only keep your teeth safe, but it will also help your dentist to detect any developing problems before they become too severe. The nerves in your teeth become less receptive as you get older. This means that when problems arise, you will not be able to detect them. This is why, when you get older, it’s important to have daily tests.
- If you have a dental problem, see a dentist. If you believe you have a dental problem, you should seek medical treatment as soon as possible. Even if you are afraid of the pain that a dental visit can cause, or if you have a limited budget and are worried about the cost of dental procedures, it is still a good idea to have your problem evaluated. Paying for minor dental issues to be resolved would save you money in the long run compared to bigger dental issues. However, there might be budget options open to you, such as paying in installments, using insurance, or getting care at a dental school. Dental discomfort can also make it difficult to consume enough food. If you have oral pain that is affecting your life in this way, you should seek treatment as soon as possible.