We all get Older. At this point, you need to understand that advancing in age doesn’t mean you can forget about dental hygiene. In fact, elderly age is the time most people lose their teeth and resort to Dentures. That is why it is critical to brush and floss regularly, to prevent cavities and keep away the tooth loss.

Conditions that come with age

You need to know some aspects that are most important for Older Adults.
Dry mouth, also known as Xerostomia, is a common condition that comes with age. There are a lot of medications, including antidepressant and anti-hypersensitive, that can cause dry mouth. Other things that can contribute to dry mouth are smoking and drinking. Also, if you have been receiving radiotherapy, you can expect dry mouth to come along.

You need to be aware of the fillings. People of all ages suffer from tooth decay and as a treatment they receive a dental filling. In addition, older adults grew up not knowing and not using fluoride products. That is why they are more likely to develop tooth decay in the area of the older fillings.

Periodontal disease, also known as gum disease, most of the time goes undetected until it’s too late. The too late part usually happens to older adults, and especially to those who didn’t have regular dental appointments. The Periodontal Disease firstly starts as gingivitis, which is an irritation and inflammation of the gum tissue. With age, gums will recede and will leave the root of the tooth open to the bacteria of the mouth and to the food. It is best if you seek the help of a professional dentist and check if your teeth have started to shift or if your gums have receded because of periodontal disease.

Dentures are the most common solution used in America and worldwide for advanced tooth loss. There are partial dentures, full dentures, permanent dentures and removable dentures. Even if you have dentures, you need to take care of your remaining teeth. Dentures usually need teeth as support and if that support is lost the denture will not work anymore. You need to brush and floss regularly, create a routine and stick to it. Furthermore, you need to visit your dentist regularly to check the proper fit of the denture and the health of your remaining teeth.
It doesn’t matter if you use a manual toothbrush or an electric one. You need to brush using the correct methods, floss and use mouthwash. In addition, you need to use products that contain fluoride to ensure the remineralization of the enamel layer.