Dental Hygiene for Aging Adults
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Dental Hygiene for Aging Adults

There are many pieces of the puzzle regarding aging and maintaining our overall health. Dental care is key to our well-being and starts with a daily routine. It’s never too late or too soon to strive for better health and on average it can take around 66 days to establish a new habit such as a dental care routine (Scientific American). Let’s brush up on a few dental hygiene tips we can all benefit from as we age!

Home Routine According to the Cleveland Clinic, an ideal daily dental routine is to brush twice, floss once, and use mouthwash. Consult with your dentist about product recommendations that could work well for you such as a night guard or water flosser. Set reminders to help stay on track so you don’t miss days. Additionally, take a look at your hydration, nutrition, and other habits. “People who smoke are at a higher risk of developing mouth cancer (oral), gum problems, losing teeth, decay on the roots of teeth, and complications after tooth removal and gum and oral surgery” (Better Health Channel).

Appointments Don’t put off making an appointment if you aren’t having routine dental visits. Dentists help monitor for changes and can resolve issues such as dry mouth or sensitivity. A small issue can quickly turn into a bigger problem if you ignore it and hope it goes away. Dental procedures can be expensive and painful, it’s best to prevent them by attending follow-up appointments and communicating with your providers or care team.

Be Proactive “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 percent of all people age 65 and older have no remaining teeth. Nearly one-third of older adults have untreated tooth decay. Severe gum disease is associated with chronic disease and severe health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and respiratory disease” (ACL). It’s never too late to make changes for better health. Remember to encourage your loved ones to do the same. We should take care of ourselves in order to be the best for those we care about. That way we can put our best foot (and smile) forward!

Resources

How to Quit Smoking: CDC Guide