Dental health, just like overall health, is essential to your well-being. There are many conditions that can affect dental health. One of them is aging. Dental issues worsen as people age, and they must pay greater care to their oral health. Good oral health is critical for elderly persons since it reduces the risk of various health problems. Here is everything you need to know about the importance of dental health for senior citizens.
Oral Health Challenges for Seniors
It matters greatly for older people to have good oral health. Senior citizens must take care of their oral health because one of the reasons of dental disorders is aging. If you are a senior citizen and do not pay attention to your oral health, then you may face dental problems. Here are some oral health challenges that you may face, such as dry mouth, gum disease, and tooth loss.
Dry Mouth
A dry mouth, also known as xerostomia, is one of the most common dental problems among senior citizens. The reason why it is common in older people is the increase in factors that will cause dry mouth. For instance, having long-term health issues and some use of certain medications can lead to dry mouth.
Diabetes, for example, is a prevalent health issue among seniors that can cause dry mouth. In addition, chemotherapy and radiotherapy can affect the production of saliva. Similarly, medication for heart conditions and smoking can cause dry mouth as well. Smoking is extremely unhealthy for individuals of all ages, especially the elderly, because it causes several health problems. Remember that if left untreated, dry mouth can lead to additional dental problems.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is another oral health challenge for seniors. As people age, they are more likely to have gum disease. Mainly, a build-up of plaque on the teeth can lead to gum disease. However, there are many different factors that cause gum disease in senior citizens as well. For example, during menopause, female senior citizens can experience hormonal imbalances that lead to gum issues.
Furthermore, common health conditions in the elderly can lead to gum disease. Cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease are examples of such diseases. The treatment of gum disorders is critical. If left untreated, it can cause tooth pain, sensitivity, and other dental issues.
Tooth Loss
Tooth loss is another dental health problem for senior citizens. Untreated dental disorders such as a rotting tooth, broken tooth, or gum disease can result in tooth loss. There are, however, certain therapies that can replace a lost tooth. Dental implants and dentures are examples of such therapies. Such treatments are dental implants and dentures.
As Smile Team Turkey, we offer you these treatments. We can give you with the greatest dental implant experience possible thanks to our skilled team of dentists. You may learn more about dental implants and dentures by visiting Smile Team Turkey’s website or contacting us.
Preventive Measures for Senior Citizens
Below are some steps that should be taken to avoid dental problems, and maintain good dental health in senior citizens.
Regular Dental Check-Ups
One of the preventive measures for good dental health for senior citizens is regular dental check-ups Regular dental check-ups are very important for keeping your teeth and gums healthy. During dental check-ups, the dentist can detect potential problems in advance.
Thus, the dentist can treat the problems, and you do not experience any symptoms like toothache, sensitivity, or bleeding. Besides, you may reduce the risk of having dental problems in the future. In addition, during dental check-ups, the dentist can suggest dental care tips. That is why it is advised that dental check-ups be scheduled at least twice a year.
Proper Oral Hygiene
To keep teeth healthy, practicing proper oral hygiene is a must for all people. Especially good dental health for senior citizens requires proper oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day, as suggested, helps to keep your mouth clean and reduces the chance of dental disorders. If you brush and floss regularly, you can prevent plaque build-up on your tooth enamel and remove plaque.
This way, you may reduce the risk of tooth decay, enamel erosion, and other dental problems. In addition, if you have dental appliances like dentures, you should keep your dentures clean. Cleaning and maintaining dental prosthesis increases their lifespan and reduces the danger of developing dental disorders.
Dental Care Tips for Seniors
Here are some dental care advice for seniors to keep their teeth healthy. These suggestions should be followed by older persons in order to maintain good oral health.
Managing Dentures or Implants
If you are a senior citizen and lost your tooth due to an accident or a health condition such as a cavity, you can replace the missing tooth with dentures or an implant. After consulting a dentist, you can choose a dental implant for a permanent solution or removable dentures.
However, whatever the treatment is, you need to take good care of it. To make a dental implant or dentures durable, you need to practice good oral hygiene, avoid consuming and chewing on hard foods, quit smoking, schedule dental check-ups twice a year and get professional teeth cleanings.
Regular Dental Visits for Adjustments
For good dental health for senior citizens, regular dentist visits are essential. The early detection and treatment of oral problems require regular dentist visits. It is recommended to schedule a dentist appointment at least twice a year.
During dental visits, the dentist can detect dental problems such as the onset of tooth decay or gum diseases like gum recession. In this way, dental problems are treated before they worsen, and symptoms such as pain and sensitivity disappear even before they begin. Treating dental problems during dental visits reduces the risk of worse and more severe oral diseases.
You can reach our previous article from https://smileteamturkey.com/blog/the-role-of-diet-in-dental-health/
