What Seniors Can Do to Prevent Oral Health Problems

Over the last couple of weeks, we have really been concentrating on some of the dental problems seniors will face as they get older. Now, we want to start focusing on what seniors can do to address and/or prevent these problems.

1. Increase fluoridation – make sure you are using both a fluoride toothpaste as well as a fluoride rinse.

2. Increase hydration – as stated in earlier articles, there are a significant amount of medication that most seniors take that can create dry mouth and bad breath. If you find this to be the case, one solution is to make sure you hydrate more, but you can also ask your doctor to try some different medications to see if this helps alleviate the problem. You should also avoid alcohol, as it will promote dehydration. In addition, chew some sugar-free gum throughout the day so your mouth continues to produce saliva.

3. Avoid using tobacco – using tobacco is a quick way to darken your teeth, but it can also lead to other significant health issues. Smoking can obviously cause cancer in the mouth and/or throat and it can also lead to heart problems and other serious health conditions. Chewing tobacco is also very dangerous, as it can also cause cancer as well as lead to tooth due to the “gourmet” formulations that are loaded with sugar.

4. Use anti-bacterial mouthwash – we mentioned a fluoride mouthwash above, but you should also consider using one that has anti-bacterial properties as well. Most major brands will offer some form of “complete” care mouthwash that will feature fluoride, anti-bacterial components, as well as whitening abilities.

5. More frequent dental visits – for most of our lives, we have been going to the dentist twice a year. As we get older, the problems that develop can develop quicker and have a more significant impact on our overall health. Even if you have to pay for that visit out of your own pocket, that $40 or $60 is a good investment to catch a more serious problem before it has time to develop into a costly dental procedure.

Something else to consider is an investment into a water flosser, especially if you have a bridge in place. For most of us, getting under the bridge is virtually impossible, but flossing this area is made much easier with a water flosser. Water flossers also massage the gums and people that use them see far less plaque buildup than those not using them on a regular basis.

If you want to offset some of those expensive dental costs, consider singing up for our New Hampshire discount dental plan for individuals , families, and small business owners. For more information and to find out how you can save as much as 20 percent off your dental bills, click here.