How To Maintain Good Dental Care As You Get Older

No matter what stage in life we are in, it’s important to look after our teeth. Some would suggest that it’s in our younger years where we should be taking more care of our bodies in preparation for old age and retirement. The chances are though if we were to travel back in time to warn our younger selves of this, we still wouldn’t listen.

Once you’re nearing and passing retirement age, it’s important to take note of which areas you need to improve on. One of the biggest hurdles for many in old age is taking care of our teeth and gums, so we’ve put together a handy checklist of sorts for you to cross-reference with your dental hygiene routine.

Quality Cleaning

Firstly, it’s important to remember to brush your teeth regularly, as well as with purpose. Don’t think of this just as a chore that’s been ingrained into you so that you half-heartedly run your toothbrush through your mouth for 20 seconds. Brushing your teeth is your first defensive action against decay and gum disease and should be done with care and consideration.

Avoid brushing too hard, too, as this common technique can damage your tooth enamel, the protective coating on your teeth. Losing this enamel can cause sensitivity and pain in your teeth. Find a good balance and make sure you brush all of your teeth, all the way back to your molars, as well as the front and back of them too. Many people forget to brush the back of their teeth—the part your tongue touches first—which is common for bacteria to shelter.

Start Flossing

Working in tandem with great brushing techniques should be your determination to floss regularly. Many people forget or can’t be bothered with this step, and we understand. You’ve just stood there for 2 minutes or so brushing, and now you have to awkwardly get that floss between each tooth for another few minutes?

While it’s recommended that you do this after brushing, it’s worth at the very least trying to do this as often as you can, even if it’s not every time, as turning this into a healthy habit is a great thing to do. The bacteria and debris that can get stuck between your teeth are hard to reach with normal toothbrushes. This is where flossing shines, as it can effectively eradicate the build-up between your teeth reducing the risk of decay and gum disease.

Regular Dental Checks

Getting regular dental checks is a very important part of maintaining your smile. You might think that just brushing and flossing is all you need to do, but you’d be surprised at how much you can miss or get wrong with those steps. Your dental hygienist will be able to identify any issues you’re having with your brushing technique. At the same time, your dentist or paediatric dentist will be able to check the overall health of your mouth and even pick up on any serious problems from worn-down teeth to mouth cancer.

It’s imperative to get a dental checkup at least once a year, and you should make sure you seek a well-respected, expert dentist for your checkups, such as those at Pure Dentistry in Brisbane. You can find out about all of their treatments at puredentistry.com.au.

Dental Repairs

As time goes on, our risk of damage increases exponentially. Living a full life of activities and experiences naturally brings with it more risks, and you’d be lucky if you hadn’t gotten through without injury. Many people find themselves chipping and losing teeth during these accidents. Cracked and damaged teeth are unpleasant, but rectifying these problems isn’t a hard task for your dentist. There are many types of repair treatments that you can receive for your teeth, from crowns over damaged teeth to bridges and implants for filling those gaps. If you’ve got a damaged or missing tooth, it’s very important to see your dentist or paediatric dentist as soon as possible as they’ll be able to offer you several repair options for you to choose from.

Give Up Bad Habits

There are so many reasons to give up bad habits, and some are much worse than others. We’re going to talk about the obvious ones here, though. Smoking is extremely bad for your mouth, not just your lungs. Being the entry point for smoke, your mouth is buffeted by hundreds of dangerous chemicals each time you smoke a cigarette.

This can cause mouth cancer and serious gum disease and discolour your teeth, turning them a sickly yellow shade over time. Not only that, but it’s also a huge contributor to bad breath, which can be a huge turn off for others when you’re talking to them. Knock the cigarettes out of your life for a healthier and happier smile.