As you age you may find that it’s more difficult for you to keep your teeth healthy. This could be because you don’t have the manual dexterity that you once had 一 and brushing, along with flossing has become difficult. Perhaps you’re dealing with oral issues that are a consequence of the aging process. Regardless of the reason for the decline in your oral health, here are some tips that can help you maintain a more healthy mouth.
Seniors: Incorporate Fluoride Into Your Cleaning Routine
Fluoride is a natural mineral that is crucial for strengthening teeth and preventing decay. Though most toothpastes already contain fluoride, many types of mouthwash do not, and you should be incorporating both fluoride toothpaste and fluoride rinse into your dental cleaning routine.
For teeth that are very vulnerable to developing decay, or if you find that you’re constantly getting cavities, our Long Island dentist can provide you with prescription-strength fluoride products that will help save your smile.
Products for Dry Mouth in Seniors
Dry mouth is often caused by things like taking medication. The more medications you take on a regular basis, whether they’re prescription or over-the-counter, the more likely you are to have a dry mouth.
Xerostomia (dry mouth) becomes an issue when your mouth doesn’t produce enough saliva to flush away leftover food particles. When your mouth is dry plaque sticks to teeth very easily, and if not brushed away quickly, bacteria will grow and form cavities on your teeth.
As we’ve already mentioned, fluoride-containing products are great for combating tooth decay. In addition, xylitol stops the production of tooth decay-causing acid and neutralizes the pH level in your mouth.
There are many products available over-the-counter that contain both fluoride and xylitol for treating dry mouth. For example, you can help fight cavities while increasing your saliva production by sucking on lozenges, chewing gum, sipping on water, or using oral moisturizing sprays.
Oral Care Tips for Seniors
Some other products that are great for seniors to have during their oral care routine are a water flosser and an electric toothbrush.
We understand that flossing can be very difficult for seniors. A water flosser can be a great help to those that don’t have the manual dexterity they once had. This device uses pressurized water to flush away food particles in hard-to-reach areas and does an excellent job of cleaning around crowns and under dental bridges. In addition, an electric toothbrush will make an easy job of brushing those difficult areas.
Avoid Losing Teeth and Replace What’s Missing
Despite all of your hard efforts to maintain a healthy mouth, you may still have issues with teeth that require restorative treatment. Our Long Island dentists strongly recommend that you take steps to preserve your natural teeth rather than choose to have them removed.
Since losing teeth puts a lot of stress on the remaining ones, you’ll want to save as many teeth as you can. If not, it can cause a domino effect of problems like excessive wear, breaking teeth, and/or loose teeth. Not to mention bone loss and lack of support to your facial features.
If you already have missing teeth, full mouth reconstruction is possible with implants, dentures, partials, bridges, or a combination of several procedures. A customized plan can restore your entire smile to help you enjoy all your favorite foods and get the nutritional intake you need.
The key is to have a fully functional bite so that the pressure of your jaw is evenly distributed and no teeth are overworked or undergoing significant stress.
Digestive Issues in Seniors Starts With Your Teeth
If you’re only missing one or two teeth then you may not notice a big difference in your chewing ability. But the more teeth you lose the harder it will be to break down your food. Rather than eating healthy, crispy fresh fruits and vegetables 一 along with lean meats 一 you’ll likely start eating softer foods that are heavily processed and negatively impact your digestive health. Doing so reduces your vitamin intake and the nutrients absorbed by your gut. A healthy diet starts with having the proper tools (healthy teeth) to break down your food.
Caring For Partials and Dentures
If having a removable device like a partial or denture is your tooth replacement solution then that’s great. We understand that bridges and dental implants aren’t feasible for everyone. However, if you have one of these appliances it’s important to always remember that they are removable 一 meaning that they’re not meant to be slept in and worn all of the time. Your gums need time to breathe or they will become red, puffy, and inflamed. Bacterial infections of the mouth can also occur from prolonged use of acrylic appliances that are kept unclean.
So remember to remove your partials or dentures every night, brush them well, along with any remaining natural teeth that you may have, and let your appliances sit overnight in a protective case.
Dental Cleaning, X-rays, and Check-ups
It’s recommended to visit the dentist at least twice a year for a thorough cleaning and check-up. Periodic x-rays are also recommended because they show us problems that might be occurring that we can’t see when we look in your mouth. X-rays help us diagnose decay between teeth, cavities under crowns and bridges, dental abscesses, gum disease, and loss of the jaw bone.
Oral Cancer Screening for Seniors
An oral cancer screening can identify mouth cancer early when there is a greater chance for successful treatment. This examination is typically completed by a dentist or a doctor. At Sachem Dental Group we perform a cancer screening of your mouth during every routine dental checkup. We look for areas of lumps, unusually colored spots, sores that do not heal, and examine your saliva.
We may also use a special light to look at an area in question and help us determine if a biopsy of the area should be performed or not.
Sachem Dental Group: Helping Senior For Over 35 Years
The expert team of dentists and professional staff of Sachem Dental Care in Suffolk County can help you maintain a healthy mouth for life. Give us a call today to enjoy the healthy, strong smile you need as a senior!