Dental Hygiene for Senior Dental Patients

As people get older, their health naturally starts to break down and one of those health issues is complications with their oral health. When paired with other health difficulties, it can lead to some serious problems if a good oral hygiene program is not followed.

For most of us, going to the dentist every six months is the norm. However, as we get older, that may need to change to a more frequent visitation due to the fact deterioration can happen much quicker at an older age. Here are some of the conditions you need to be most aware of:

· Gum Disease – this is something that is far more likely to happen in elderly than it is for younger patients. In fact, the Academy of General Dentistry (ACG) estimates that 25 percent of seniors ranging between 65-74 have a severe gum disease. With the bone and tissue surrounding the teeth also impacted by this condition, there is a very good chance of loss of teeth if the condition goes untreated. In addition, conditions such as osteoporosis and diabetes can accelerate gum disease problems.

· Tooth Decay – when taking massive amounts of medication, a side effect is a lack of production of saliva. This is why so many seniors constantly complain about dry mouth. Other factors contributing to dry mouth are cancer and radiation treatments. Without normal saliva production, bacterial toxins will go unchecked in your mouth, building up, finally exposing the root surface of the tooth.

· Old Dental Work – as you age, so does your dental work. It is only natural that some of that dental work that had been done over a decade ago may deteriorate with age. If you are experiencing any type of pain in an area where you have had dental work done, such as a cavity or a bridge/crown, make sure you see your dentist ASAP.

· Oral Cancer – once you get over the age of 40, your odds have having some type of oral cancer increase dramatically. More dangerous than natural aging, though, is smoking and drinking. If you are doing or both, your chances are even higher that you may eventually have some sort of oral cancer.

What Can You Do?

As we suggested earlier, a more proactive approach to your oral hygiene regimen is your first line of defense against any dental problems. You have to make sure you are brushing and flossing twice a day and do not rule out carrying some floss with you to floss after every meal. You can also ask your dentist to bump up your bi-yearly checkups to every four months so if something is going wrong, you can catch it quicker.

If you are putting off going to the dentist due to the high costs of dental care, consider signing up for our New Hampshire senior discount dental plans that can help you save as much as 20 percent off your dental bills. For more information, click here.

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