Keeping your smile healthy as you age is possible with the increasing benefits offered by dental technology and other advances. In addition, there are things you can do at home as part of your daily oral care to maintain top-notch oral health. Check out the following four ways you can support your smile as you age:
1- Fluoride. Aging can cause the skin to sag, bones to become more brittle, and teeth to become more fragile. To help your tooth enamel stay strong, you can add fluoride protection. This mineral can be accessed through fluoride tablets, toothpaste, or a professional fluoride treatment by our dentist.
2- Tobacco. Oral cancer can ravage your oral health as you age, particularly if you regularly use tobacco products. But that isn’t its only negative, it also increases dry mouth, halitosis, and tooth decay. We encourage our patients to consider dropping this habit and seeking a tobacco cessation program if needed.
3- Hydration. If you are like many people today, aging can bring on declining health which necessitates medication use. And some of these medications list dry mouth as an unfortunate side effect. This is a problem for your smile because dry mouth invites tooth decay and gum disease. You can speak with your doctor about an alternative medication that doesn’t harm your smile. To encourage hydration, drink plenty of water during your day, avoid or limit alcohol and caffeinated drinks, and use sugar-free chewing gum to stimulate saliva flow.
4- Mouthwash. A mouthwash with antibacterial properties can complement your daily brushing and flossing regimen. These all work together to lower the amount of harmful bacterial plaque every day. We recommend sticking to products that carry the ADA seal of approval on the packaging.
To help your smile stay healthy as you age, remember to maintain regular dental checkups and cleanings. To schedule your next visit, call our Ferguson & Associates, DDS team in Concord North Carolina at 704-786-8317 to set up a consultation with your dentist, Dr. Sean Ferguson.