As we get older, dental care must not be taken for granted and should always be given priority. It is important that we observe good dental care to prevent common problems such as dried mouth, darkened teeth, toothaches, gum disease, root decay, and tooth loss. Tooth loss is a common problem for seniors. Not everyone knows that if oral health was not given concern, it could affect the overall health of our body and the quality of life. Healthy teeth do not just let us eat better and enjoy food, having healthy dental care would lead us away from serious health problems caused by unhealthy dental care. Because simple tooth decay and gum disease may lead to brain and heart infections.
But don’t worry, the risk from obtaining the said diseases could be lessened. So if you are afraid of having a brain and heart infection, to be safe from this is to start taking care of your teeth. To do so, I have listed the tips for caring for your teeth that should be performed on a regular basis. Brace yourself as you read these easy tips to take care of your oral hygiene.
Regular Brushing
The age you are, the more receding your gums would become. That is why it is important that you’re using the right toothbrush bristles for your gums, these are soft bristles. The use of a soft bristle brush is the best choice for sensitive and receding gums. And regular brushing with a soft bristle brush is very important. Regular means spending a three-minute brush after each and every meal. For ages who are suffering from arthritis, it is advisable to do brushing with an electric toothbrush for more convenient use.
Importance of Flossing
Flossing should also be done regularly as well as brushing. Flossing can help you to remove the plaques and tartar that brushing alone could not do. It takes only a few minutes to do it at least once a day as recommended by the American Dental Association or ADA.
Dentures
Don’ think that it is too late for the missing teeth to be taken good care of. You can still smile with a complete set of teeth using the dentures. These removable teeth are made exactly to fit your mouth and create a good look like your original teeth. It could replace the entire set of teeth or just the missing tooth. Dentures are not as strong as the original teeth so you must use them cautiously. But it still gives you the confidence to smile.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are the most innovative and more convenient ways to replace the missing tooth aside from the dentures. This implant procedure involves surgery. It may be more expensive than dentures but dental implants give a permanent result. This is done by attaching a metal post to the jawbone. And when successfully done, the dental implant will be placed to the ready-made procedure. The implant will then be formed to match the natural teeth.
Pay a Regular Visit to your Dentist
As you age, it becomes more vital you pay a regular visit to your dentist. It should be done every 6 months. A regular checkup and cleaning must be done and follow your dentist’s advice. The dentist also checks for those loose teeth and if there are bumps or lumps. It is important that these bumps and lumps would be checked regularly as they might lead to oral cancer. Check out our friends at Dental Standard for specialist help!
So don’t lose hope if you are suffering from toothaches, darkened teeth, root decay, and even tooth loss. Regular brushing, flossing, the use of dentures, the benefit of using dental implants visiting your dentist surely could do something about your oral health problem.