Without our mouths, we wouldn’t be able to do things like eat, taste, talk, laugh and smile. They’re an essential part of our bodies, which is why it’s so important to take good care of them.
Failing to maintain good dental hygiene can lead to issues like bad breath, tooth loss, and gum disease. What’s more, there’s also a greater risk of developing other health problems, such as heart disease and certain cancers. Obviously, that’s not ideal, especially if you’re at an age where you’re becoming more susceptible to illness.
To ensure that you keep such concerns at bay, it’s essential that you do everything you can to look after your dental health. If you’re not sure how to do that, these seven tips should clear a few things up for you.
Use Fluoride Toothpaste
Brushing your teeth is one of the best ways to take care of your dental health. If you do this twice a day, you’re likely to have fewer problems with plaque buildup and receding gums.
However, on its own, the act of brushing isn’t the perfect defence, especially if you’re not using the right toothpaste. You want to ensure that whatever you use contains fluoride, as this will help provide more protection against cavities.
Although keeping such things at bay is essential at any age, it becomes more crucial as you get older. That’s because the risk of cavities tends to get higher as you grow up. This is partly because you’ve had your teeth for so long, but also because a lot of medication can cause dry mouth. This side effect makes it easier for bacteria to build up around your teeth, leading them to decay.
Stay Away From Tobacco
The dangers of tobacco have been well advertised over the years. From lung problems to cancer, being a regular smoker can be incredibly damaging to your health. There’s also the matter of what it does to your oral hygiene too.
For one, it can stain your teeth. This might seem like a purely cosmetic issue, but it could affect your self-confidence if you become uncomfortable with the way your teeth look. Although brushing can help reduce this problem, it won’t fix it completely.
What’s more, there’s also a greater possibility that you’ll develop gum disease if you’re a smoker. Aside from leading to tooth loss, this can also impact your health in other parts of the body, such as the heart and brain. That’s why it’s so important to try and cut cigarettes out of your life.
Obviously, thanks to nicotine, this is easier said than done. Thankfully, if you have any trouble quitting, there are some resources here that may be helpful. They should hopefully help you move past any roadblocks on your journey to being smoke-free.
Stay Hydrated
Hydration is important for a lot of reasons. It ensures your organs continue working correctly, regulates your body temperature, keeps your joints lubricated, and even helps you sleep. On top of all that, it also plays an essential role in maintaining great dental health as you age.
This ties back to the risk of dry mouth caused by medication use. As you grow older, the likelihood of needing medication increases. Unfortunately, so many tablets have this side effect which can make you more susceptible to tooth decay.
There are two ways you can combat this. Firstly, you can try to substitute your medication with an alternative that doesn’t cause dry mouth. However, that won’t always be possible, which is why boosting your hydration is also an excellent idea. Doing things like drinking more water and avoiding alcohol will ensure your mouth never gets too dry, making it easier to keep decay at bay.
Visit A Dentist Regularly
Going to the dentist is something you should be accustomed to by now. If you’ve prioritised your dental health, you likely already see a specialist once or twice a year.
Getting a regular checkup is essential because dentists can keep your teeth clean in ways that you can’t. Their intervention can help deal with plaque in areas your toothbrush either can’t reach or isn’t strong enough to remove. Without their help, the risks of gum disease and other oral hygiene issues increase quite significantly.
If you’re not registered with a dentist, or you’re unhappy with the service you currently receive, you can always visit puredentistry.com. The experienced dental team here uses the best technology and materials to ensure you maintain a winning smile, no matter your age. Whether you’re looking for dentures, tooth whitening, or just a standard cleaning, they’ve got you covered.
Reduce Your Sugar Intake
Oral health has always been important. However, it’s becoming an increasing concern thanks to the amount of sugar people eat nowadays. With this stuff present in so much of what we consume, the risks to both waistlines and teeth are growing out of control.
If you’ve never had much of a taste for the sweet stuff, it’s probably best to keep it that way. The less sugar you expose your mouth to every day, the better chance you’ll have of fighting tooth decay. This stuff can be a considerable contributor to plaque, which then eats away at the enamel on your teeth, making them weaker.
If you’re not sure of your current sugar intake, it’s probably worth paying more attention to what’s in the food you eat. This should help you craft a delicious but healthy diet, giving you less to worry about regarding your dental health.
Increase Your Calcium Intake
Whereas sugar is something you should try to reduce in your diet, you want to do the opposite with calcium. This substance is ideal for helping keep your teeth strong and free from disease because it supports your bones.
By taking the recommended dose of calcium for your age, the enamel on your teeth should harden. This will provide more protection against the plaque that may develop there. On its own, it won’t keep your winning smile from harm, but combined with the other tips mentioned here, it can make a significant difference.
Introduce Floss And Mouthwash To Your Routine
If simply brushing your teeth twice a day isn’t doing enough for you, it may be worth adding a few things to your routine.
Flossing is great for getting between your teeth and removing some of the food and plaque that builds up here. It can be more thorough than a toothbrush, ensuring that your mouth stays healthier between dentist visits.
Mouthwash is another thing you may wish to add to your oral hygiene routine. As well as combating bad breath, this stuff kills the bacteria that attack your teeth and causes decay and gum disease. A quick rinse of this stuff after brushing and flossing will leave your mouth feeling fresh and clean for hours.
It’s natural for your oral hygiene to deteriorate as you grow older simply because your mouth gets exposed to so much over the years. Fortunately, if you follow these dental health tips, that shouldn’t be a problem. You’ll be able to keep those issues at bay for a long time to come without having to put in that much extra work.