Aging can be stressful- but taking care of your teeth as a senior should be stress-free! Just like at any age, dental hygiene is of critical importance to seniors, but some might worry about how to maintain great dental hygiene at an older age. To help keep your mouth healthy and make sure your oral care is as free of stress as possible your Salinas Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Cureton, has some dental care tips tailored specifically to seniors:
Stay hydrated
The more hydrated a mouth the better- especially for older mouths. Mouths that are too dry can lead to the rotting of gums and teeth and can cause an overall disintegration of oral health. As you get older, your mouth makes less and less saliva, which can make it difficult to keep your mouth as moist as it should be. To maintain a healthy amount of moisture, seniors should drink plenty of water and cut down on their consumption of sugary drinks. Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free candy can also increase saliva production and help keep a mouth hydrated and healthy.
Stop using tobacco products
Among the great dangers of smoking are several detrimental effects to your teeth and mouth. Throat and mouth cancers are very dangerous and are often caused by smoking or chewing tobacco. Yellowing and weakening of the teeth are also side effects of tobacco use. Smoking affects both the health and the appearance of your smile. To make sure your mouth stays looking and feeling great, stay away from cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Switch to a fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride can help protect your mouth and reduce the risk of cavities. To increase your oral health, check to make sure that your toothpaste contains fluoride or switch to a toothpaste that does. Adding a fluoride rinse is a good alternative to switching toothpastes.
Don’t grind your teeth
As you age, your teeth often get thinner and more brittle, which means grinding your teeth can lead to broken teeth. If grinding continues, teeth might even break all the way to the nerve- causing lots of problems and pain. To keep these problems from arising, stop grinding your teeth once and for all. For night grinders, purchase a night guard from your local drug store. These guards are easy to fit to your mouth and can yield immediate results.
Brush and floss regularly
At any age, brushing and flossing your teeth regularly are great habits for keeping your entire mouth at its prime. Flossing is necessary for keeping your mouth healthy and free of gum disease, which can sometimes lead to tooth loss. Brushing your teeth regularly is equally important in order to minimize plaque buildup and reduce the risk of cavities and other dental concerns. To keep your mouth at the top of its game, be sure to floss daily and brush at least twice a day. If brushing or flossing becomes difficult due to arthritis or other health problems, your Fresno dentist recommends switching to an electric toothbrush and handheld flossers to make your oral hygiene routine stress and pain free.
Schedule regular dentist appointments
Regardless of your age, regular dentist visits are important, but as you get older the importance of seeing your Salinas Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Russell Cureton, at least once a year gets even greater. While you might be inclined to visit your dentist on an ¨as needed¨ basis, this can be dangerous as a senior. One side effect of aging is losing the sensitivity in your teeth, meaning you might not be able to feel pain in your teeth that might signify serious dental problems. Seeing a dentist insures that even the earliest signs of dental problems are detected and handled properly. Annual visits to the dentist are an important step in keeping your entire mouth looking and feeling young and beautiful.
Don’t let the stress of aging keep you from taking great care of your teeth. With a little extra attention and continuing your existing oral hygiene habits, your smile can continue to be a gorgeous, healthy, and youthful piece of you.
If you have questions or need assistance in taking care of your smile at any age, contact your Salinas Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Cureton's office.
Stay hydrated
The more hydrated a mouth the better- especially for older mouths. Mouths that are too dry can lead to the rotting of gums and teeth and can cause an overall disintegration of oral health. As you get older, your mouth makes less and less saliva, which can make it difficult to keep your mouth as moist as it should be. To maintain a healthy amount of moisture, seniors should drink plenty of water and cut down on their consumption of sugary drinks. Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking on sugar-free candy can also increase saliva production and help keep a mouth hydrated and healthy.
Stop using tobacco products
Among the great dangers of smoking are several detrimental effects to your teeth and mouth. Throat and mouth cancers are very dangerous and are often caused by smoking or chewing tobacco. Yellowing and weakening of the teeth are also side effects of tobacco use. Smoking affects both the health and the appearance of your smile. To make sure your mouth stays looking and feeling great, stay away from cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Switch to a fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride can help protect your mouth and reduce the risk of cavities. To increase your oral health, check to make sure that your toothpaste contains fluoride or switch to a toothpaste that does. Adding a fluoride rinse is a good alternative to switching toothpastes.
Don’t grind your teeth
As you age, your teeth often get thinner and more brittle, which means grinding your teeth can lead to broken teeth. If grinding continues, teeth might even break all the way to the nerve- causing lots of problems and pain. To keep these problems from arising, stop grinding your teeth once and for all. For night grinders, purchase a night guard from your local drug store. These guards are easy to fit to your mouth and can yield immediate results.
Brush and floss regularly
At any age, brushing and flossing your teeth regularly are great habits for keeping your entire mouth at its prime. Flossing is necessary for keeping your mouth healthy and free of gum disease, which can sometimes lead to tooth loss. Brushing your teeth regularly is equally important in order to minimize plaque buildup and reduce the risk of cavities and other dental concerns. To keep your mouth at the top of its game, be sure to floss daily and brush at least twice a day. If brushing or flossing becomes difficult due to arthritis or other health problems, your Fresno dentist recommends switching to an electric toothbrush and handheld flossers to make your oral hygiene routine stress and pain free.
Schedule regular dentist appointments
Regardless of your age, regular dentist visits are important, but as you get older the importance of seeing your Salinas Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Russell Cureton, at least once a year gets even greater. While you might be inclined to visit your dentist on an ¨as needed¨ basis, this can be dangerous as a senior. One side effect of aging is losing the sensitivity in your teeth, meaning you might not be able to feel pain in your teeth that might signify serious dental problems. Seeing a dentist insures that even the earliest signs of dental problems are detected and handled properly. Annual visits to the dentist are an important step in keeping your entire mouth looking and feeling young and beautiful.
Don’t let the stress of aging keep you from taking great care of your teeth. With a little extra attention and continuing your existing oral hygiene habits, your smile can continue to be a gorgeous, healthy, and youthful piece of you.
If you have questions or need assistance in taking care of your smile at any age, contact your Salinas Cosmetic Dentist, Dr. Cureton's office.
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