While it’s always important to practice proper oral hygiene and take good care of your teeth, this becomes increasingly important as you get older and there are more chances for oral health issues. So to help ensure that you don’t wind up prematurely losing your teeth or experiencing painful and inconvenient dental problems, here are three tips for caring for your teeth as you get older.
Continue With Regular Dental Visits
One of the best and most important things that you can do to keep your teeth and mouth feeling good, aside from just keeping up with your daily brushing and flossing, is to continue with regular dental visits. Even if you’re living in an assisted living facility, you should still be having regular dental visits to help keep your teeth in tip-top shape.
At these dental visits, in addition to giving your teeth a deeper clean, your dentist will be able to see if there are any issues with your teeth or your mouth that warrant further inspection. When problems with your teeth and mouth are spotted early, they can much more easily be addressed and steps can be taken to get everything back in working order. Otherwise, problems can be left to fester and can become much harder for you and your dentist or medical professionals to combat.
Keep An Eye Out For Any Changes
Another thing that you can do to help take better care of your teeth is to be a little more aware of what’s going on in your mouth and noticing when something changes.
Even the smallest little change or difference in your mouth or teeth can be an indication that there’s something that needs to be addressed. So if you notice that you have a sore or other discomfort in your mouth or throat, if you feel any lumps or patches, if you experience any swelling or numbness, or if you’ve just having any pain or trouble using your jaw, tongue, or other parts of your mouth, it’s best to document those changes and have a dentist or medical professional take a look at things.
Get Products That Make Proper Cleaning Easier
While you might be used to using a standard toothbrush and floss, these things might prove to be harder for you to use as you get older and your dexterity starts to decline. Luckily, there are plenty of products available that can make cleaning your teeth an easier task for older people.
If grip is your issue, try to get a toothbrush with a larger handle or using flossers rather than a string of dental floss. You can also invest in electric tools that can make cleaning a little easier and more efficient.
If you’re wanting to continue caring for your teeth as best you can as you age, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you in doing this.