Whether you have dentures or all your original teeth, maintaining good oral care and hygiene is extremely important in your senior years. Problems like tooth loss, tooth decay, and gum disease become more likely as we age, so it’s essential to keep up your oral care routine to help prevent these problems.

In this article, we’ll share some tips to help you take better care of your teeth and gums throughout your senior years.

Keep brushing and flossing

The first tip is simple, keep following the oral care routine that you should maintain throughout your whole life. Brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily to keep your teeth clean and prevent plaque build-up. This simple daily routine can help to fight off lots of problems, including cavities and gum disease.

Prevent dry mouth

Dry mouth, or xerostomia, becomes more common as we age, which can make cavities, tooth decay, and other problems more likely. It’s important to stay properly hydrated to help prevent dry mouth. Chewing gum can also help to promote saliva production, but look for sugarless gum to keep your teeth healthy. Certain medications can also cause dry mouth, so look into the side effects of any medications you’re taking and ask your doctor if there are any alternatives if this is the case.

Choose fluoride toothpaste

Seniors can fight tooth decay by switching to a toothpaste that contains fluoride, if they don’t already use one. In particular, fluoride helps to prevent cavities, which can be a prevalent problem among seniors. Equally, a fluoride mouthwash can help improve oral health.

Follow proper denture care

If you do have full or partial dentures, then make sure you follow your dentist’s advice for caring for them. This doesn’t just maintain your dentures but is also important for the health of your gums and any remaining teeth surrounding partial dentures. For tips on how to look after your dentures, click here to read our article.

Keep visiting the dentist

It’s important to keep seeing your dentist on a regular basis, even if you have dentures. They will be able to catch any problems early and treat them or advise you on how to look after your teeth and gums better to keep them healthy. Your oral health can also be connected to other aspects of your health, with the risk of conditions such as heart disease increasing with poor oral health. So, regular dental check-ups can also help to keep these risks in check.

If you’re looking for a dentist around Bermuda Run, NC, then contact Advance Family Dental to book an appointment or find out more about our services.