Regardless if you’re a hero that’s new to Sugar Bug fighting, or if you have some years under your belt, good dental hygiene and oral care is important for heroes of all ages.
At Heroes Dental we understand that as you get older, sometimes dental care takes a back seat to everything else in life. The truth is though, that diligently caring for your mouth is just as important when you age as when you were little. While your dental routine might require just a little bit of tweaking because of changes in your mouth, there’s no reason that you can’t maintain your oral health.
Let’s learn a little about some of the issues that can arise with age and how we can help prevent them.
Oral Issues to Look Out For
While age is not the only factor when determining someone’s oral health, there are a number of medical conditions that arise with age. As there also tends to be an increase in the consumption of medication as we age, those drugs can affect your mouth, requiring some tweaking to your dental treatments. Consider the following signs as reasons to schedule an appointment with your dentist:
- Gum disease is frequently a problem for older adults as years of consuming certain foods and beverages can cause a buildup of plaque. Failure to floss, in unison with the use of tobacco, poor diet, certain diseases, and generally inadequate oral care, can lead to serious problems like tooth loss.
- Dry mouth is another major issue that often occurs as a side effect of various medications or certain diseases. While dry mouth may simply cause discomfort, there can also be serious consequences, like the irritation of soft tissues in the mouth that can make them inflamed and more susceptible to infection.
- Uneven jawbones caused by the movement of teeth can lead to problems with chewing, speaking, swallowing, and breathing. Shifting teeth can cause serious pain, jaw deformity, and aesthetic issues.
- Frequent exposure to acids that cause root decay means your gum tissue can begin receding from the tooth. Without any enamel to protect them, the roots will become more prone to decay and causing oral health issues.
- Ill-fitting dentures, in addition to poor dental hygiene, can cause a inflammation and soreness of the tissue under the dentures. Known as stomatitis, this condition can affect a person’s ability to eat, talk, and sleep.
Tips to Keep Those Pearly Whites Strong
To start off with the basics, daily brushing and flossing are going to be most important tools for keeping your ivories in good health. If oral hygiene is difficult to maintain because of health issues, plaque can build up and cause issues like gum disease.
In order to keep up with your oral health as you age, follow these guidelines:
- To avoid gum disease, simply keep up with good hygiene habits, visit your dentists regularly, and use antibacterial mouth rinse, which can reduce the bacteria that causes plaque and gum disease.
- Fluoride is still as important at 60 as it was when you were 10 years old. Make sure to brush your teeth twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride. You can also drink fluoridated water to help defend against tooth decay.
- If you suffer from dry mouth, there are a couple of steps you can take. Use a moisturizing mouthwash or chew sugar-free gum, which helps with the production of saliva. You can also talk with your dentist or doctor about the medications you are taking. They may be able to recommend and prescribe a different medication that can help with the symptoms of dry mouth.
- Even if you have dentures, you’ll need to take care of them just as you would your real teeth. There are special toothpastes made specifically for dentures, and just like your real teeth, you’ll need to clean them daily. Don’t forget to brush your gums and tongue to remove any food particles. Speak with one of our dentists at Heroes Dental to get instructions on how to take care of your dentures properly.
Helping an Elderly Loved One
At Heroes Dental we understand that sometimes our loved ones need a little bit of assistance as they age. In these sorts of scenarios, the same two steps can be taken to help them maintain a healthy mouth:
- Frequently remind them to brush and floss daily.
- Make sure you get them to the dentist regularly.
If your loved one has difficulty handling these actions on their own, then talk with your dentists about ways that you can help them accomplish oral care. Also, play very close attention to your elderly loved one if they wear dentures. You may notice a change in their eating habits, which can mean denture problems.
Heroes Dental is here for you at any age!
Little heroes and big heroes alike are now welcome in our offices. Our treatment options range from routine dental care to cosmetic dentistry services for heroes of any age. Schedule an appointment at any one of our Rio Grande Valley locations in Laredo, Mission, or San Juan.