Dental Care Tips for Seniors

No matter how old you are, everyone can enjoy good oral health. The better you take care of your teeth and gums, the better the chance they will remain healthy. However, as you age, you may need to make some changes in your oral care so that you keep your natural teeth for longer. Here are some tips for seniors dental care:

1. Use more fluoridation: Teeth weaken over time. Using toothpaste or a mouth rinse that has extra fluoride can help minimize weakening.
2. Hydrate more: Dry mouth is more prevalent in seniors dental care due to changes in the body as it ages. Having a dry mouth can encourage the growth of bacteria. But it is easy to address: drink more water, reduce your intake of alcohol, or chew sugar-free gum to stimulate the production of saliva.
3. Say no to tobacco: In any form, tobacco can lead to many health problems, including throat and mouth cancer. Did you know that because it can contain sugar, chewing tobacco can also increase your chance of tooth decay? No tobacco is a safe amount to consume.
4. Be aware of your medications: While your medications improve your health in some areas, in terms of your dental care, those medications can lead to dry mouth or an increase in oral fungi. Ask your doctor or dentist about your prescriptions and how they can affect your oral care.
5. Are your dentures right for you?: If you wear partial or complete dentures, you still need to be aware of your dental health! If your dentures that do not fit correctly, if you don’t maintain your dentures, or if you don’t clean your mouth can lead to the growth of fungus or cause inflammation of the gums.

Keeping your teeth in shape as you get older requires typical oral care practices. In addition to the tips above, you should schedule regular visits with your dentist so that they can keep on top of any potential issues. Preventive care is your best defense.