When they get older, people tend to take their health more seriously than they did before. You might find yourself taking better care of your body, but your oral health is just as important. They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so here are three dental hygiene tips to help seniors stop oral health problems before they start.
#1: Use Antibacterial Mouthwash
Bacteria is a living thing; if you leave it alone, it will grow. Their colonies will get larger as time goes on, which means that seniors tend to have more than younger people. Keeping these bacteria in check is important to prevent a host of oral health issues. Antibacterial mouthwashes have been proven to reduce the likelihood of gum disease and slow the growth of bad bacteria in the mouth. If you’re a senior and aren’t already using mouthwash, you should try incorporating it into your dental hygiene routine.
#2: Brush Away Food Particles
Normally, our body is fairly good at carrying leftover food out of the mouth. It’s usually broken down by saliva and washed away before bacteria can feast on it. That changes when you get older. Saliva production naturally starts to slow down, which means maintaining a consistent brushing routine becomes even more important.
#3: Visit the Dentist Regularly
Regular dental check-ups are important to all kinds of people, but especially to seniors. If you have dentures or bridges, a checkup lets your provider examine your prosthetics for signs of wear. They can also clean your dentures more thoroughly than you can, so if you feel like your prosthetic could use a deep scrubbing, it might be time to make an appointment.
Checkups will also allow your provider to screen for several diseases. Oral cancer becomes more common as you age, and early detection can make a huge difference in your prognosis, so your dentist will probably screen you for it at every appointment.
Now that you’re older, there are a lot of things you’re having to learn to do differently, or for the very first time. You should take comfort in the fact that some things don’t change; you still need to brush, use mouthwash, and see your dentist. One thing is just as true now as it was when you were younger; so long as you take care of your teeth, they’ll take care of you.
About Our Practice
At Aegis Dental, we want not only to fix whatever problem you’re facing right now, but to prevent the next one from even happening. Our preventive care services are second-to-none, and we can provide treatment to people of any age. Whether you need a deep cleaning or emergency dental care, we are well-equipped to help you. If you have any questions about how to take care of your teeth as you age, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (972) 492-6700.