A phrase you’ll often hear seniors say is, “Things just ain’t what they used to be!” For the most part, they’re completely correct, and that’s true even for their smile. Everything about our body changes as we age, including our teeth. With this in mind, there are a few key things older adults can do to make sure their smile stays strong and healthy for the golden years to come, and today, your dentist in Summerlin is going to share the top 4.
1. Keep Brushing and Flossing
No matter your age, consistent brushing and flossing are still the most important parts of your dental hygiene routine. For seniors, this will not only keep the teeth intact, but it will also preserve their gum health, which becomes increasingly important over the years. Gum disease has been connected to everything from tooth loss to diabetes to heart disease, so in order to keep both your smile and your body in great shape, be sure to brush at least twice a day and floss once.
2. Don’t Let Your Mouth Dry Out
Dry mouth is a condition where the salivary glands aren’t able to produce enough saliva to keep the mouth a healthy environment, which can make it extremely susceptible to developing infections. This is usually the result of simply aging and it is also a common side effect of many medications. The solution? Be sure to keep a water glass handy at all times, and if you still have trouble with dry mouth, talk to your doctor, and they can provide you with salivary supplements.
3. Maintain Your Dentures
It is estimated that by the year 2020, nearly 40 million people in the U.S. alone will need dentures. Of course, that means plenty of people have them now, and it’s very important that they keep them clean. Brushing your dentures after you eat and soaking them at night are very important to not only keeping your mouth healthy, but ensuring they last as long as possible as well. Typically, a denture needs to be relined about every 3-4 years and replaced every 5-7. Not taking care of them can make a person much more likely to develop gum disease, oral irritation, and negatively affect the overall look and feel of the dentures.
4. Visit Your Dentist
Regular dental visits are even more important as people age because older patients are more likely to suffer from conditions like gum disease and even oral cancer. Both are quite treatable, but they can become very serious and even life threatening if left alone for a long time. Two visits a year is a good start, and your dentist will let you know if you need to come in more often. That way, they can quickly catch and treat any dental problems that might pop up.
Certain things inevitably go away as we age, but our smile doesn’t have to be one of them. Simply by keeping up with your dental hygiene and regularly seeing your dentist, you can keep your confident smile for decades to come and truly enjoy this next phase of your life.
About the Author
Dr. Pamela West is a family, restorative, and cosmetic dentist based in Summerlin, Las Vegas, NV. At her comprehensive dental practice, she and her team provide 5-star service for patients of all ages, and they are always happy to serve the “wisest” members of the family. To learn more tips on how to take care of your teeth as you age, Dr. West can be contacted through her website.