Longmeadow Family Dental Care Longmeadow Family Dental Care

Oral Health for Older Adults

| dental health, dentures, dry mouth, family, health, hygiene, losing teeth

They say with age, comes wisdom. And there’s no wiser time to talk about our oral health than right now. That’s because approximately one-fourth of adults age 65 and older have no remaining teeth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not to mention that almost a third of older adults have untreated tooth decay.

As you age, it becomes even more important to take good care of your teeth and your oral or dental health. That’s because our oral health can influence our overall health and well-being. The older we get, the more at risk we are for a host of oral health problems, including:

  • Diminished sense of taste
  • Root decay
  • Gum disease
  • Dry mouth
  • Uneven jawbone caused by tooth loss
  • Inflammation from denture wear
  • Oral cancer

Maintaining your Oral Health as You Age

You may be surprised what a difference a healthy mouth makes when it comes to feeling good, not to mention staying healthy.

Here are some tips for maintaining and improving your oral health as you become older:

  • Brush twice a day with a toothbrush with soft bristles or consider using an electric toothbrush.
  • Floss at least once per day.
  • Drink tap water. Since most contains fluoride, it helps prevent tooth decay no matter how old you are.
  • If you wear full or partial dentures, remember to clean them on a daily basis. Take your dentures out of your mouth for at least four hours every day. It’s best to remove them at night.
  • Definitely stop smoking! Smoking puts you at greater risk for lung and other cancers and increases problems with gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss.
  • Visit your friends at Longmeadow Family Dental Care for your regular dental checkups.

Here’s to getting better with age! Make an appointment today!