You’ve reached those golden years. Now you hope to experience opportunities that were perhaps unavailable before. But aging can mean health issues become more prevalent, including problems with teeth and gums. Tooth loss as you age is not acceptable or normal. Maintaining great dental health throughout life requires vigilance … brushing and flossing daily; a healthy diet and exercise; and seeing your dentist on a regular basis are the basics that may help you enjoy good oral health as you age.
Common Oral Health Concerns
Gum Disease – Gingival recession coupled with years of wear and tear may have taken a toll on your teeth and gums. It is just as important now to floss daily to keep your gum tissue healthy. You may have pockets where food seems to lodge … daily flossing will help keep areas prone to giving you problems as healthy as possible.
Financial Concerns – If you are living on a fixed income, you may not feel regular visits to the dentist are justified. However, failure to maintain your oral health could lead to more costly problems down the road. Investing in your oral health is important for overall good health.
Appearance – You want to look your best. Missing or damaged teeth can be embarrassing. This can impact your social life as you may no longer wish to dine or visit with friends or family.
Aging Gracefully
Changes will likely occur as you age; but your dental health does not need to suffer. Your dentist is your ally so address any concerns you may have before they have a chance to escalate. Enjoying good food is one of the great joys in life, but the inability to chew can put a damper on that. So brush twice daily with a fluoridated toothpaste; floss daily to remove what your toothbrush missed. And visit the dentist as often as recommended.
Maintaining good oral health can impact so many areas of your day to day life, so do whatever you can to keep teeth and gums healthy.
