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No matter what your age, focusing on dental health is important to your overall health.  When your mouth is healthy, you can eat the foods you want and need for nutrition.  Smiling, talking and laughing with others is important to your quality of life and is much easier when you have great oral health.  The following article touches on some common problems we see in our senior patients.  If you have a loved one that hasn’t been taking great care of their teeth and gums, has any of the following issues or could use an oral evaluation, please don’t hesitate to call our office today.  Dr. Heck is well versed in helping patients of all ages, including seniors. 

Compromised Oral Hygiene

As we age and our dexterity, the use of our hands, becomes more and more difficult, as does teeth-brushing and flossing.  Dentists recommend brushing twice a day for at least 2 minutes in addition to flossing once per day.  Many seniors simply cannot brush that long (using a manual brush) let alone floss daily with it being difficult to manage.  Chronic buildup of plaque and tartar results, leading to issues with tooth decay and gum disease.  A helpful recommendation is a power toothbrush and a water-flosser or Waterpik.  These devices take some of the burden off the hands, and can improve overall hygiene for most seniors when shown how to use them properly.  

Dry Mouth & Decay

Many seniors take a multitude of medications to handle any number of ailments.  Many of these medications reduce salivation and lead to chronic dry mouth. Dry mouth can make it hard to eat, swallow, taste and even speak.  Also of concern is increased risk for tooth decay. Dry mouth is a major problem as one of the functions of our saliva is to buffer the acids that cause tooth decay.  New decay on smooth surfaces and decay that develops around the edge of a filling are more commonly seen in senior patients due to dry mouth.  To reduce the risk of tooth decay, brush your teeth twice a day as discussed above with a fluoride toothpaste concentrating along the gum line.  There are many over-the-counter products that can help with dry mouth and reduce the risk of decay.  Biotene rinse is the most well known.  We often prescribe high-fluoride toothpaste for our senior patients for extra protection against tooth decay.  

Gum Disease, Recession & Root Decay

Compromised oral hygiene and dry mouth, can also contribute to the development of gum disease and gum recession.  Both of these can expose the root(s) of your teeth to plaque buildup.  Root surfaces are softer than enamel and as result are most susceptible to decay and changes in temperature.  While hygiene is important, seeing the dentist at least twice a year is crucial to check for gum disease, decay and discuss ways to better care for your mouth. Diabetes and heart disease can also be related to gum disease.  Talk to Dr. Heck today if you can concerns about yourself or a loved one.  

Need or Problems with Existing Dentures/Partials

Dentures and partials should always be taken out at night and stored in a safe place after cleaning.  Dentures need to cleaned daily to keep them free from plaque, bacteria, mineral buildup and food debris that can cause stains, bad breath and swollen gums.  Use a soft-bristle brush with hand or dish soap in lukewarm water. Brush all surfaces and rinse well.  While you sleep, dentures or partials should be kept wet.  While submerging isn’t necessary, a little water in a  sealed container is sufficient.  You do not want them completely dry for extended periods of time.  Dentures and partials should not be inserted until your mouth is clean in the morning.  Brush the teeth and gums, floss if teeth are present and use a mouthwash.  Dentures and partials should 

Should you or a loved one have questions about how to best manage your oral hygiene, especially as we age, please call Dr. Heck’s office today for a consultation.  

Christopher F. Heck, DMD - Montgomery General Dentistry can help you to restore your oral health and can also help you to prevent problems in the future. To learn more about oral healthcare for seniors, visit this family dentist’s website or call (513) 794-1884 to schedule an appointment. 

 

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