Oral hygiene is one of the important parts of a healthy lifestyle, irrespective of the age category. In our modern lifestyle we come across a huge number of old people who use dentures (False teeth). Every one of us wants our elders to have a happy life and be able to eat everything they desire. What are the ways to prevent their teeth from weakening by age? This post is to give you the complete information on oral hygiene and ways for elders to take care of their teeth.
WHAT IS ORAL HYGIENE?
Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping the mouth, teeth and gums clean and healthy to prevent diseases. Oral hygiene practices are often taken for granted, but it should be given some serious importance. Listed below are some mouth problems that appear as a result of a poor oral hygiene.
Attrition
Generally known as simple periodical wear and tear. As the result of chewing and grinding for many years, your teeth start to experience wear and tears. As the enamel wears down, the risk of cavities increases.
Serious Illness
Two of the serious illnesses are oral cancer and thrush, which is an abnormal growth of fungus in the mouth.
Dry Mouth
Dry mouth is a phase when the salivary glands fail to produce enough saliva to keep your mouth moist. Regular medication or a chronic condition can lead to a dry mouth along with problems like cavities and tooth decay.
Gum Disease
Periodontal disease or gum disease is one of the common and major reasons of tooth loss in adults. The plaque formed on the teeth will lead to a periodontal disease. Practicing proper oral hygiene will prevent gum diseases from happening.
Sensitive Teeth
One of the major reasons for sensitive teeth is the wear of enamel from the outer layer of the teeth. When the exposed area comes in contact with a hold or hot substance they tend to cause a severe pain.
Root Decay
When the roots of the teeth are left exposed the decay in the teeth appears. This often happens as the side effect of a gum disease as the erosion of the gum leaves the root exposed.
RIGHT WAY TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH
Many of us misunderstand the concept of brushing and brush their teeth abruptly which can cause even more removal of the enamel. There are some basic guidelines to brush your teeth, follow that inorder to have a healthy set of teeth. Place the bristle of your brush where the gum and teeth meet, with bristles pointing towards the gum and brush gently with circular movements. Brush along the gum line and take time for each and every teeth. Use a tongue cleaner to clean your tongue.
TIPS FOR A ORAL DENTAL HEALTH
Brush your teeth daily: Make sure to brush your teeth two times a day and use a proper toothpaste that contains fluoride. Brush continuously for at least three full minutes.
Quit Using Tobacco: Tobacco has proven to be one of the most common and serious causes of mouth and throat cancer. Thus it is best for you to quit tobacco if you are one of those constant users.
Monitor Sugar Intake: keep track of how much sugar you are taking in daily. Avoid eating too much candy or chocolates. Watch out for rich in starch, which is not good for your oral health.
Increase Oral Hydration: Replace your medications with the ones which will not leave you with a dry mouth. Increase your intake of water. Stay hydrated throughout the day.
Have Regular Dental Visits: Getting your teeth checked and maintained regularly is very important and can keep you away from any potential oral problems. Get your teeth cleaned at a dental hospital at least once in three months.
Have Proper Intake Of Calcium: Calcium is the most important nutrient that plays a major role in keeping your teeth strong. American Dental Association says that it is advisable for older adults to take at least 1000mg of calcium a day.
If you are a person who desires to eat everything that you like then it is also essential for you to give utmost importance in taking care of your oral hygiene. There is a famous quote that says, ”Healthy teeth is not a destination, it is a way of life”, and it is true that a healthy smile gives us more confidence in ourselves.
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Author: Team 60plus India
Keywords: Oral Hygiene, brushing techniques, dentures, attrition, dry mouth, gum disease, sensitive teeth, root decay
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