We often think of oral health habits as a topic for young children. Parents, older siblings, and the dentist teach children the importance of brushing their teeth twice a day, flossing, and avoiding lots of candy and sugary drinks.
But what happens as we grow older? Should our oral health routines change? While the tried and true tips of brushing, flossing and avoiding sugar still apply, there are some specialized routines that apply to seniors that should be considered.
1. Have a special brushing routine
While brushing our teeth at least twice a day is essential, so is how we brush As we age, changes occur in our teeth and gums, which may require a change in brushing techniques. Be sure to talk to your dentist about this at every regular cleaning.
2. Thread: More important than ever
Brushing does not reach the entire surface of a tooth, which is why daily flossing is so important. When we’re younger, traditional flossing can be fine, but as we get older, changes in fine motor dexterity, arthritis in the fingers, or declining vision can make flossing more difficult. Fortunately, there are many alternatives to traditional flossing – for example, a water flosser works very well by washing away food, bacteria and plaque between the teeth and reducing inflammation in the gums.
3. Stick with fluoride toothpaste
Fluoride is an essential component for cavity prevention. As we age, we may develop tooth sensitivity or receding gums. If this happens, ask your dentist for a toothpaste with a low relative dentin abrasion (RDA) value. In general, most toothpastes labeled “sensitive teeth” will have a low RDA. If a toothpaste is labeled as being great for calculus control or stain removal, it will likely have a higher dentin abrasion rating.
3 Toothpastes You Should Use With Care (or Avoid Completely)
4. Use a mouthwash recommended by the dentist
During your regular cleanings, talk to your dentist to find a mouthwash that is ideal for your dental and medical needs. While many types of mouthwashes are designed to freshen breath, others can provide antimicrobial support to help you maintain healthy gums and prevent tooth decay. There are also specialist mouth sprays that can help if you regularly experience dry mouth due to medication.
5. Make good food choices
Whether you’re 5, 50 or 105, your dietary decisions affect your oral health. Following a diet low in refined and processed sugars and high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can benefit your dental health and overall well-being. Limiting your consumption of candy and sugary drinks is a good decision regardless of your age.
6. Keep scheduled dental checkups
Practicing good oral hygiene at home is essential to maintaining optimal oral health, but don’t cut back on regular visits to the dentist. During your routine check-ups, the dental team will carefully inspect your mouth for any changes in color and texture and analyze the shape of your teeth and gums to detect any problems at an early stage. While maintaining a schedule of six-monthly dental cleanings is ideal, your dentist may recommend more frequent checkups if oral health problems begin to develop.
7. Be very careful when cleaning dentures
As we get older, we are more likely to need dentures to replace damaged teeth or teeth that have been removed due to significant gum disease. Dentures can come in full sets (replacing all upper or lower teeth) or in partial sets. A partial denture is usually used to fill an area with one or more missing teeth.
If you have recently had dentures fitted, you need to keep them clean and free of food. You should also inspect your gums regularly to make sure the skin looks smooth, healthy, and free of abrasions. Dentures should be brushed daily with a special denture care cleaning product and then soaked overnight in denture cleaning liquid. Removing your dentures while you sleep will help keep your gums healthy and prevent swelling.
8. Treatment of dry mouth (dry mouth)
Many medications taken by older people can cause dry mouth. Whether it’s high blood pressure, bladder control, or depression, many well-known prescriptions can cause this side effect. Dry mouth is exactly what it sounds like: it’s when you can’t produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist enough. Persistent dry mouth increases the risk of cavities, tooth decay and fungal infections inside the mouth, so it’s a condition that needs to be taken seriously. If you experience dry mouth, talk to your dentist. There are many products that can help keep your mouth healthy and reduce tooth decay.
9. Check for oral cancer
Oral cancer usually starts in the mouth, throat or tongue and is more likely to develop after the age of 40. Surprisingly, in its early stages, oral cancer often has little or no pain, so it’s easy to miss the disease. However, your dental team will look for the warning signs of oral cancer at every dental checkup, even if you don’t feel any discomfort.
If you are concerned about developing oral cancer, there are some preventative suggestions you should follow:
- Avoid all cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes, cigars or e-cigarettes
- Drink alcohol only in moderation
- Use lip balm with sunscreen
Great oral hygiene requires lifelong commitment
Scientific and medical studies have consistently shown that our oral health is linked to our overall health. Maintaining good oral health as you age can help reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and other chronic, life-threatening conditions. Having regular appointments with a well-trained, compassionate dental team can certainly help, but it’s no substitute for good oral hygiene habits at home.
In 2013, the Journal for the American Geriatrics Society published the study Poor oral health and quality of life in older US adults, which showed that subjects were 1.34 times more likely to have worse general health if they had no dental care in the previous 12 months compared to those who had received dental care. Clearly, maintaining frequent dental checkups, cleanings, and screenings is vital to staying healthy as we age.
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