Posted by Meghan Weaver on Thu, Jul 22, 2010 @ 11:53 AM
Our smiles are made to last a lifetime and proper dental hygiene has a huge impact on the health of your mouth and body, whether you’re 5 or 85. However, as we get older, we become more susceptible to oral health problems such as periodontal disease, inflammation of the gum tissue, dry mouth syndrome (often caused by medications) and oral thrush just to name a few.
It’s plain to see that taking care of your oral health in your golden years comes with several unique considerations. Here are 5 essential tips for seniors to keep healthy teeth and gums (and ultimately healthy bodies).
#5 Keep consistent with your at home oral health care regiment: This means keep brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash as instructed by your dentist to maintain proper dental hygiene.
If brushing and flossing are difficult for you, consider using an apparatus such as a tongue depressor to lengthen your brush or flossing tool. Also, if you suffer from arthritis or a similar condition, you may want to try inserting the back end of your toothbrush into a standard tennis ball for better maneuverability.
#4 Know the warning signs to prevent harmful conditions: Elders are generally more susceptible to many major oral health problems including gum disease, tooth loss, TMJ, dry mouth syndrome and oral cancer and should be on the lookout for key signs and symptoms. Symptoms to watch out for include, swelling of the gums, teeth sensitivity, loose teeth, jaw soreness, persistent mouth sores and bumps or an unquenchable thirst. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your dentist right away for diagnosis and treatment (if you live in Massachusetts and need help finding affordable dentistry, we can certainly help).
#3 Maintain dental appliances such as dentures and dental bridges properly: Contrary to popular belief, a set of dentures won’t last you 20 plus years. The ADA recommends replacing them every 5-7 years to avoid painful consequences such as mouth sores, oral lesions and difficulty chewing/swallowing/digesting food.
For denture wearers, we’ve put together 4 helpful tips to keep them in excellent shape and maintain oral health.
#2 Talk to your dentist about any medication you’re taking as dry mouth syndrome is a common side effect of many Rx drugs. For dry mouth sufferers, dentists can prescribe an array of solution such as an artificial saliva rinse to keep your mouth moist and wash harmful bacteria away.
#1 Visit your dentist as often as he or she recommends for regular checkups: Even if you wear dentures, it’s still vital to visit your dentist twice-yearly per-ADA recommendation. On top of keeping your mouth in tip top shape, your dentist can alert you of developments in your mouth that point to problems elsewhere in your body or pick up on early signs of improper jaw alignment or poor nutrition which may become problematic down the road.
Want more advice on senior dental care? Universal Dental Plan is out on tour this year with a full presentation on the importance of oral health and hygiene in the golden years. Sign up here to bring our Golden Smiles Tour to your local council on aging or senior center.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Thu, Apr 15, 2010 @ 04:02 PM
Whether you're walking into a room for a job interview or meeting someone for a first date, a bright smile and fresh breath can go a long way. However, bad breath can be a huge strike against you.
According to a Massachusetts Dental Society Article, 25% of Americans suffer from chronic halitosis (aka bad breath) and nearly $10 billion is spent on this condition each year. There are many culprits out there for bad breath (i.e. garlic, spicy foods, tobacco products, etc.) and so many products on the market-mints, mouthwashes, etc.-only mask your bad breath, never getting to the root of the problem.
Here are 3 straight facts on bad breath and a few helpful tips to keep it at bay:
- 80-90% of bad breath comes from the oral cavity, specifically bacteria growing there: This bacteria develops in the crevices between teeth, the pockets of your gums and on your tongue. These are all very fertile breeding grounds for bacteria to set up camp and multiply. If the bacteria causes infections, it produces byproducts called Volatile Sulfur Compounds. Volatile Sulfur Compounds not only smell awful, they put you at higher risk for systemic health problems such as heart attacks and stroke.
- Bad breath can be caused by dry mouth: Dry mouth (or xerostomina) is one of the lesser known culprits of bad breath. Dry mouth occurs when the flow of saliva to the mouth decreases leaving less of it to naturally cleanse the mouth of odor-causing bacteria. If you suffer from dry mouth, you may want to consider using a sugarless candy, upping your fluid intake or your dentist may prescribe you an artificial saliva product.
- Bad breath could be the sign of a more serious medical condition: Bad breath can be one of the first signs of conditions such as chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbances and liver or kidney ailments. That's why if you suffer from bad breath and your dentist determines you have a healthy mouth, he or she may refer you to a family doctor or specialist to pinpoint the root cause of your problem.
To keep bad breath away, it's vital that you maintain good oral health. You should keep a consistent oral health care routine that includes the following:
- Brush at least 2 times per-day with a fluoride toothpaste to clean away debris and plaque (make sure to brush your tongue too).
- Floss (or use an interdental cleaner) at least once per-day to remove debris between teeth.
- If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night and clean them thoroughly before replacing them the next morning.
