While there are a lot of people who lose teeth throughout their lives, many others go on to live out the rest of their lives with full set of teeth in their mouths. This often leaves us wondering what their secret was.
The important thing to remember is to stay on top of your oral health at all times by brushing and flossing regularly, as well as visiting the Stafford, VA dentist yearly for routine cleanings and checkups.
Things such as tooth decay and gingivitis become more common as we age. And, if left untreated, this conditions can lead to more serious conditions that can cause bone loss, as well as tooth loss. Therefore, taking care of your teeth is one of the most important things you can do for your health as you move on through the years.
Today, we’re going to look at how our oral health changes as we age, as well as a few ways you can prevent any problems from developing.
The Effects of Aging
There’s a common misconception that as we age, our teeth will inevitably begin to fall out. This, however, is far from the truth, and if you take an active roll in taking proper care of your teeth, they can, and should, last for the rest of your life.
However, as we age, some things will inevitably change. One common complaint for people as they age is that their mouth often becomes drier. And, since saliva helps to clean your teeth, as we get older, we are often more susceptible to tooth decay.
Furthermore, your teeth may become less sensitive to problems such as cavities. This is due to the nerves within your teeth becoming smaller and is a perfect example of why visiting the dentist becomes even more important as you age.
Below, we’ll look at a few other factors that play a role in our oral health as we age.
Health Issues and Medication
As we get older, we may develop health issues that can make getting in to visit the dentist that much more difficult. However, oral health is crucial to our overall wellbeing, therefore, it’s important to take good care of your mouth and getting in to see your dentist.
Many medications list dry mouth as one of their side effects. This often includes antidepressants and antihistamines that are prescribed by your doctor. If you’re on a medication that causes dry mouth, be sure to speak to your doctor or Stafford, VA dentist, who will be able to recommend certain products that can help keep your mouth moist.
What Can You Do to Avoid Problems?
Two of the most important things you can do to avoid oral problems as you age are cutting down on the amount of sugars you eat and taking proper care of your teeth. This involves brushing twice and flossing at least once every single day, as well as visiting your dentist regularly for routine checkups and cleanings.