8 Important Dental Tips for Seniors
Seventeen percent of seniors age 65 and over have infections of the teeth’ structures, including the gums, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. Bacteria in our mouth can contribute to several conditions, including heart disease, respiratory infections, and diabetic complications.
The importance of oral care in older adults should be of great concern. Below are some of the dental tips for seniors to prevent impending dangers.
Practice proper dental care
Without proper dental care, gum disease, bone loss, tooth loss, and discolored teeth will be the day’s order.
Your risk of getting oral cancer increases as you get older. So what dental tips for seniors can you apply? If you see any changes in your mouth, it’s essential to get them checked out.
If you have any of these symptoms for more than two weeks, it will be great to see a dentist:
- A spot in your mouth, lip, or throat that feels uncomfortable or sore
- A lump or thick area in your mouth, lip, or throat
- A white or red patch in your mouth
- Difficulty chewing, swallowing, or moving your jaw or tongue.
- Numbness in your tongue or mouth
- Swelling in your jaw
- Pain in one ear without hearing loss
Proper dental care includes replacing your toothbrush every three months, brushing your teeth for at least two minutes, and using mouthwash to prevent cavities and slow the buildup of plaque around your teeth.
However, it would be best if you avoided too much mouthwash, as it can upset the pH balance in your mouth. Rinsing with mouthwash once a day, right before bed, is sufficient.
Avoid Tobacco
The importance of oral hygiene in older adults must be emphasized for both smokers and nonsmokers. Smokers have twice the risk of gum disease as nonsmokers. In addition to the adverse effects of tobacco use, smoking weakens your immune system and overall health making it harder to fight off a gum infection.
Smoking also contributes to a host of dental problems, including:
- Lost sense of taste and smell
- Receding gums
- Tooth decay
- Gum disease
- Oral cancer
However hard it is to avoid the smoke; if you love your dental health, it is the right thing to do today.
Floss
As a tip for dental health for seniors, brushing teeth after every meal, when you wake up and before going to bed, is paramount. Consistent flossing is also crucial. Standard dental floss is generally considered the most effective tool for cleaning the tight spaces between the teeth.
To prevent cavities, you can also use dental floss to scrape up and down each tooth’s sides. If plain dental floss gets stuck in your teeth, use the waxed variety. In case you have a hard time handling dental floss, you can try a floss holder.
Be Gentle on Your Gums
What kind of toothbrush do you use? Your gums should be worried if the toothbrush is not soft enough. Keeping your gums healthy may be a more gentle job than you think. The heavy-handed approach to brushing may lead to gum recession. Gum recession can then cause root surfaces of your teeth to become exposed, making them more susceptible to sensitivity or decay.
So, be friendly to your gums! As you brush, use slow, gentle movements. When flossing, be careful not to jam the floss down into your gums. Instead, use a gentle bouncing motion to carefully move the floss between the tooth and the gums around each tooth. These are some of the simple dental tips for seniors to adopt.
Evaluate your toothbrush
The type or nature of your toothbrush can cause your dental infections; therefore, brushing using a recommended toothbrush is critical since:
- Brushing teeth removes plaque that causes tooth decay
- You should brush all surfaces of the teeth and gums twice a day after breakfast and before bed
- It would be best if you used a soft toothbrush or electric toothbrush
- It would be best if you used a suitable fluoride toothpaste
In older people, excellent oral hygiene dictates that toothbrush should be replaced every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles are irregular or frayed.
Eat Food that Promotes Oral Health
Taking care of your teeth is an essential part of taking care of your entire body. Making your dental health a priority will help you maintain a good quality of life. Health issues, especially diabetes, can cause dental problems. Eating a variety of nutrient-rich foods promotes healthy teeth and gums.
The foods that can promote oral health include:
- Cutting down on sugary foods and drinks to prevent tooth decay
- Low-fat dairy
- Nuts
- Lean meat
- fruits and vegetables
Drinking water has numerous health benefits for your teeth and gums, mainly if it contains fluoride. Fluoridated water will strengthen your teeth, preventing cavities, and tooth decay.
Water also helps keep your mouth clean by rinsing away and diluting the acids produced by bacteria. It also is a natural deterrent for dry mouth and makes it easier for you to swallow.
Watch out for dry mouth.
As we tackle dental health for seniors, it is essential to note that older adults experience many changes to their body which includes the dry mouth. Dry mouth can be caused by, among other factors, drinking caffeinated soda.
Chewing on gum can be a great way to help combat dry mouth, as it helps produce more saliva in your mouth. Gum is also a great way to deal with stress.
When choosing a pack of chewing gum, always select a sugarless option as sugar attacks your enamel and leads to serious dental issues. Look for gum sweetened with xylitol, a sugar alcohol that can help control harmful oral bacteria.
Visit the Dentist Regularly
Despite these great tips on oral care for the elderly, seeing your dentist for regular cleanings and oral exams is vital for maintaining your oral health during your senior years.
As you age, the nerves inside your mouth become less sensitive; hence you may have dental issues and not even realize it!
Be on the know! Contact us for expert advice on your dental health.
Seventeen percent of seniors age 65 and over have infections of the teeth’ structures, including the gums, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. Bacteria in our mouth can contribute to several conditions, including heart disease, respiratory infections, and diabetic complications.
The importance of oral care in older adults should be of great concern. Below are some of the dental tips for seniors to prevent impending dangers.
expert advice on your dental health.