Tag Archives: dental helth

Happy senior couple in love in the park

A healthy smile for years to come!

Throughout our life, teeth are exposed to various effects – both beneficial and negative. Negatively affecting them is food, improper care, irregular dental visits and other factors. Young people’s teeth are more resistant to various diseases, but in old age it becomes more difficult to avoid problems. This is primarily due to negligent attitude to the teeth, lack of proper treatment and prevention, as well as thinning of tooth enamel.

How to take care of teeth in old age
Due to natural aging processes occurring in a body, teeth in old age are exposed to various infections and destruction. At the same time, the gums and muscles of the oral cavity become weak, less saliva is produced, so the bacteria begin to multiply actively. In addition, drug treatment often has a very negative effect on the condition of teeth in old age.

Proper brushing of teeth
It shouldn’t be forgotten that daily observance of the rules of oral hygiene is the main guarantee of dental health in the elderly. Teeth are cleaned twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. The duration of this procedure should be at least 3 minutes.

Sometimes it is not possible to get to the hard-to-reach places with a toothbrush. In this case, you can use dental floss and special mouthwashes. In such a way you protect it from the multiplication of a variety of bacteria that facilitate the inflammation of gums. A toothbrush for the elderly should be changed every three months. Note that a toothbrush with a small head is much easier to use for the elderly.

Regular oral examination at the dentist’s
It is necessary to visit the dentist at least 2 times a year to check the condition of the teeth and oral cavity. Taking certain medications can lead to dry mouth, problems with the gums, weakening of the tooth enamel. And a dentist can give pieces of advice on how to avoid these unpleasant consequences.

Besides, if an elderly person uses dental prostheses and crowns, a regular visit to the dentist will help to monitor their condition and prevent the development of complications.
If there is a possibility, care should be taken to conduct professional oral hygiene, which allows removing dental deposit (dental calculus and plaque). This will not only provide prevention of caries and periodontal diseases, but, as numerous studies have shown, can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Monitor your diet. Healthy diet – healthy teeth!
People in old age are particularly in need of vitamins and minerals. The most important element for the teeth, especially in the elderly, is calcium. Unfortunately, after the age of forty, it accumulates rather badly in the bones and is even washed out, increasing their fragility. Also in the elderly, the body needs vitamins D, A, C and others. With nutrient substances the body is nourished by healthy food, as well as by various vitamin complexes.

Try to eat a piece of cheese at the end of each meal. This product helps to maintain the strength of teeth, especially in old age.
In order to strengthen teeth and gums in old age, twice a day drink half a glass of water with two teaspoons of lemon juice (if you have no contraindications to this product!). After eating it is helpful to chew the cloves. This product also helps to strengthen teeth and gums in old age.

Try not to abuse sweet. Before you drink a cup of tea or coffee in the morning, eat a small piece of a solid food. Also a special benefit for teeth in old age brings a glass of pure water with a spoon of honey mixed in it. Such a drink can be consumed in the morning instead of the usual tea. With its help, you will get rid of the potential danger of developing a dental disease, and also be able to cure the already existing ones.

Elderly people should not mix too cold and hot food (for example, drink hot coffee immediately after eating the ice cream).
Sensitivity of gums to cold and hot can warn of the onset of a disease, a crack in a teeth or caries. Do not ignore these symptoms; do not hesitate to contact your dentist.

Rinse your mouth more often with water
Even if the elderly person no longer has own teeth, it is recommended to regularly rinse the mouth with water – this will help to prevent problems with the oral mucosa.

Observe the rules of denture care
Remember that when chewing food dental plate moves, so it must be fixed with special glue. Sometimes in the elderly who wear dentures, salivation increases. In this case, you can suck lollipops or menthol tablets.

After eating, it is recommended to remove dentures and wash them in warm water with soap, then rinse and use as directed.
Teeth in old age lose their strength, so they require additional care. With the help of special antibacterial tablets you not only eliminate the bacteria, but also get rid of bad breath. Dissolve one tablet in a glass of water and put the prosthesis there for 15 minutes.
Every day, treat the gums with a warm solution (one teaspoon of salt per glass of water).

Also you should perform every day massage of gums. Periodically remove the dentures, so that the gums can rest. Do not remove the prosthesis for more than one day, because the cheeks and lips can lose shape. Protect the prosthesis from overheating and mechanical damage.

To maintain healthy teeth in old age, you should regularly take care of the oral cavity and follow simple rules of hygiene.

Senior Dental Health

Senior Couple In Bathroom Brushing Teeth

Aging affects functioning of the whole body, but often, people are just not aware or are not prepared for some health issues. In today’s article we will introduce the readers to the most common age-related oral diseases.

Xerostomia (dry mouth)
Reduction of salivation can be caused by a range of factors, including the receipt of certain medications, Sjogren’s syndrome or radiation therapy of tumors in the head and neck area. Saliva provides a natural protection of the mouth, washing away food debris and preventing the uncontrolled growth of pathogenic bacteria. In case of insufficient secretion of saliva greatly increases the risk of caries and periodontal disease, which, in their turn, entail other problems of dental health.

Darkening of the teeth
It happens due to the thinning of the enamel (the underlying layer of dentin, which has a darker color, becomes visible through the thin enamel), and prolonged use of food and drinks leading to changes in enamel color. Very often it is possible to return the whiteness by simple teeth whitening procedure, whereas in some cases more complex procedures of cosmetic dentistry may be required.

Tooth root caries
As a result of aging and deterioration of oral health care, the recession (lowering) of the gums is frequently observed. The result is the exposure of the tooth root, which is much less protected and more vulnerable to the development of caries.

Periodontal disease
This disease is typical not only for elderly people, it occurs in people of all ages. However, taking into consideration the long progression of the disease, its severe forms are more specific to elderly people. The longer period the disease remains undetected, the greater amount of oral tissues get involved in the pathological process. Although periodontal disease is caused by dental plaque, there are other factors increasing the risk or severity of the disease. They include food debris between the teeth, smoking, occlusion pathologies, poorly made dental prostheses, malnutrition and systemic diseases (such diseases like anemia, diabetes). Although the periodontal disease occurs because of disorders in the whole body, its development may be prevented. At early stages the symptoms of the disease can be completely eliminated. The treatment at the later stages may require surgical intervention. If you notice any of these symptoms: redness, swelling and bleeding gums, mobility of teeth, bad taste and bad breath, there is an urgent need to consult your dentist.

Which factors complicate the gum diseases?
- Poor diet
- Insufficient oral hygiene
- Chronic diseases such as some heart diseases, diabetes and cancer.
- External factors such as stress and smoking
- Some medications that can affect the condition of the gums

It is important to note that the prevention of gingivitis and periodontal disease can help keep your teeth until old age.

Teeth loss
It happens due to many reasons, including the following: as a result of periodontal disease, injury, or tooth decay which was left untreated. The lost tooth should be replaced as soon as possible to prevent misalignment of teeth, which can cause malocclusion and lead to dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

Stomatitis caused by wearing dentures
The reason for inflammation of the soft tissues under the dentures can become bad-fitting dentures, insufficient oral hygiene or yeast-like fungi Candida albicans.

How to prevent dental problems in the elderly
First and foremost is a thorough oral hygiene throughout the whole life. Proper oral hygiene lies in brushing teeth, at least two times a day during two minutes, every day flossing and using antibacterial mouthwashes.
With age, even usual oral hygiene may for many people become quite a challenge, due to developing arthritis or loss of strength and manual dexterity. Fortunately, now many products that can help in this situation began to appear on the market. In addition, it is important not to miss any scheduled visit to your dentist to carry out preventive examinations and some professional oral hygiene.

Take care about your teeth and stay healthy!