Request An Appointment
Keep Your Teeth Tough As You Age
It’s important to continue visiting our practice for regular appointments into your golden years.
Adding years to your life doesn’t have to mean subtracting teeth from your smile. Celebrate those extra candles on your birthday cake by ensuring that your teeth stay senior strong. Here are some easy yet effective ways to keep your teeth healthy for a lifetime.
Ensure you get enough calcium. Because calcium can decrease bone loss, it’s a good idea to consume adequate amounts. Milk, cheese, broccoli and almonds are all excellent sources. You also may choose to take supplements.
Maintain good oral hygiene habits. Brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day are essential habits that can go a long way to ensuring you keep your teeth healthy and strong.
Don’t skip your dental visits. Make sure you keep up with regular dental checkups as we can identify any problems such as decay, gum disease or oral cancer. By taking a preventative approach to your oral health, you can avoid bigger and costlier problems down the road.
Kick the habit. If you smoke, there’s no better time than now to quit. Not only is smoking detrimental to your overall health, but it also can result in gum disease and tooth loss. According to some studies, smokers are twice as likely to lose their teeth as non-smokers.
Avoid tough-on-teeth foods and beverages. Sticky foods such as dried fruit can cause damaging decay because they linger on your teeth longer. Likewise, starchy foods such as bread and chips can get stuck between teeth, resulting in cavity-producing bacteria. Coffee, tea, sports drinks and alcohol can contribute to a dry mouth, which also may lead to cavities.
If you do have missing teeth, your dentist can discuss replacement options such as dentures and implants. Contact our practice today to schedule your next appointment.
Nov 18, 2017 at 2:21 AM
Hi There, I'm surprised that you mention dried fruit as something to limit consumption of because it's healthy in terms of the rest of your body. How about just ensuring that you brush after having a snack of dried fruit. I just bought some to prevent eating unhealthy and fattening sweets.
Nov 20, 2017 at 11:38 AM
Hi Jane, Although dried fruit is better than a slice of cake, some dried fruit is high in natural sugar. This can be problematic to your oral health by causing cavities and decay. Plus, some dried fruit can be hard to remove from teeth with just regular brushing. It would be our pleasure to discuss this with you further at your next appointment. Regards, Limestone City Dental