Your Healthy Smile Can Last A Lifetime
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE are keeping their original teeth well into their old age. It’s fantastic! However, it’s really important to understand the special attention needed to maintain a healthy smile when you’re 60+ years of age. Whether you fall in that category, or you care for someone who is elderly, there are a few things below that we want to be sure our senior patients know.
Dry Mouth Can Increase Cavity And Gum Disease Risks
Dry mouth (xerostomia) affects many seniors. Lower saliva flow is often a function of aging. In addition, many medications can also cause dry mouth. Without the cleansing, pH balancing and remineralizing that saliva helps take care of, one’s oral health isn’t as protected as it could be.
Treat dry mouth by occasionally sucking on a sugarless mint or chewing sugarless gum to encourage saliva flow. Swishing water regularly can also help keep one’s mouth clean and better hydrated.
It’s True… An Ounce Of Prevention Is Worth A Pound Of Cure
Flossing Can Be More Important Than Ever
For some people over 60, their ability to fight infections like gingivitis isn’t as strong as it once was. Some studies show that unhealthy gums can leave the rest of the body vulnerable to other inflammatory diseases—including heart disease or stroke. Even Alzheimer’s and dementia have been potentially linked to this problem.
So please make sure that you’re flossing (or that the person you care for is flossing)—not just for one’s oral health, but also for one’s whole body health.
Special Tools Are Available To Help With Home Care
Many seniors find that impaired mobility makes the routine tasks of brushing and flossing really difficult. If you, or someone you love is in that position, please ask us about products like electric toothbrushes and floss piks that can make the job easier.
Keep Regular Checkup Appointments
Based on the risk factors mentioned above, it’s especially important for seniors to get regular, thorough cleanings and check-ups. When you visit, be sure to tell us about your medications, your brushing and flossing habits, and any medical conditions you’re experiencing. The more we know, the more we can help you continue to have great oral health over a lifetime.
Remember that great oral health isn’t just about teeth—it’s about whole body health!
We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment! By the way, do you already Like our Facebook page? If not, come say hello!
I’ve never seen anyone who is more respected by their staff. The entire staff only had great things to say about working there, and it made me want to return all the more. I couldn’t believe how great their office looked. It was very obvious that they took pride in the office’s appearance. It was one of the best looking offices I’ve ever seen. They really go above and beyond to make me feel special. I’ve never been anywhere that seems to care more about their clients than here. Not only was I able to watch TV during my dental procedure, they had a ton of magazines for me to look through as well. I barely even noticed that my dental procedure was going on because I was fully entertained the entire time. They were by far one of the best I’ve ever seen in their field. It was obvious that they’ve been exceeding their clients’ expectations for many years.