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 Fri, May 07, 2010 @ 10:58 AM
Over the past 17 years, Universal Dental Plan has helped countless Massachusetts seniors save their teeth, health and not to mention thousands of dollars on dental work. We've made great strides towards our goal of providing affordable dentistry to elders, but not without the help of some good friends.
In this post, we congratulate the residents of West Stoughton Village for their tireless efforts to promote dental well-being within their community. The conversations began with Dorothy Dickson who joined Universal Dental Plan in 2000. Dorothy realized the tremendous value of the plan's dental discounts and gathered together fellow West Stoughton Village residents to spread the good news.
Ten years and multiple new bright smiling plan members later, Universal Dental Plan paid a visit to West Stoughton Village so several residents could share their stories about the plan. "Universal Dental Plan is great" exclaimed Fred Sargent, a plan member since 2006 who has saved thousands so far on dental work. "It saves you money and makes you want to go the dentist because you keep your teeth longer."
Here's what Dorothy, Fred and long time plan member Pearl Kravitz had to say about us.
Dorothy Dickson, the first West Stoughton Village resident to join Universal Dental Plan, talks to us about how she spread the word.
Pearl Kravitz expresses her delight with our excellent network dentists that are very close to home.
Fred Sargent is all smiles about Universal Dental Plan, which has helped him keep his teeth in his golden years.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Fri, Apr 30, 2010 @ 10:54 AM
Contrary to popular belief, your at-home oral health care regimen doesn't stop the day you get dentures. Your dentures still need daily cleaning and upkeep. Otherwise, oral health problems such as plaque, stains and infections that you thought were long gone could very easily come back with a vengeance.
In your golden years, oral health issues should be the least of your worries. That's why all denture wearers need to follow these 4 simple steps.
Step 1: Thoroughly clean your dentures every day
Just like natural teeth, dentures must be brushed every day to remove plaque and prevent the development of permanent stains. Since dentures are very delicate, you should use a brush with soft bristles that is specially designed to clean dentures. Also, between your daily brushings, you should rinse your dentures after every meal.
Step 2: Remove your dentures at night to avoid bacteria growth
Dentures must be kept moist when they're not being worn so they won't dry out or lose their shape. Soak your dentures at night in either a denture cleanser soaking solution or water. Soak them in water if your denture has metal attachments, as they can easily tarnish when placed in denture cleanser. Also, you should avoid soaking your dentures in hot water, this will cause them to wrap.
Step 3: Be aware of any changes in the fit of your dentures
This could be a sign of gum disease. Also, if your dentures don't fit you properly, it can cause irritation and sores in your mouth. When dentures stop fitting properly, they can be repaired. However, do-it-yourself kits and over the counter denture glues can cause permanent damage or contain harmful chemicals. That's why you should always visit your dentist for denture repairs.
Step 4 Get replacement dentures every 5-7 years
Generally, complete dentures can be used for about 5 to 7 years before replacements are necessary. However, over time your dentures may need to be periodically relined, rebased or remade due to age related changes to your face, jaw and gums or if they become loose. As a general rule of thumb, people with dentures should visit their dentist every 6 months. In these twice-yearly visits, the dentist will examine your mouth for proper denture fit and check for signs of oral cancer or other harmful diseases.