Adults who are 60 or more years old need to consider altering their dietary and exercise habits to prolong their lives and live the healthiest life possible. If you ask seniors how they would like their lives to be, they would tell you they want to be able to do what they want when they want to. One way to live a healthy lifestyle is to care for your dental health. Here are some ways for senior adults to maintain good dental health.
Pay Attention to Dry Mouth
One of the largest problems seniors face with their dental health is dry mouth. Dry mouth may not seem like a concern, but it can lead to dental problems. People with dry mouths do not produce enough saliva, and it is the saliva that washes away some of the bacteria from your mouth and into your gut. If you have a dry mouth, the bacteria in your mouth can multiply rapidly and cause both tooth decay and gum disease.
Senior adults can have a dry mouth for a number of reasons. As adults age, they do not produce as much saliva as they did when they were younger. Adults also take medications that can cause dry mouth, such as allergy and asthma medication, heart medication, and diabetes medication. If you are having issues with dry mouth, you can help alleviate dry mouth by drinking more water, chewing sugar-free gum, or using mouthwash that adds moisture to your mouth.
Gum Disease
Senior adults also suffer more from tooth decay and gum disease than other adults. If you are entering your 60s, it is even more important to visit our dentist twice a year. Adults with active gum disease may need to visit our periodontist three or four times each year. If you take care of your teeth and your gums, you should be able to maintain your dental health throughout your lifetime.
Dentist Bellevue • About Cooley Smiles Bellevue For over 35 years, we've built a reputation for delivering quality general and cosmetic dental services available. Call or schedule an appointment today! Cooley Smiles, 4100 Factoria Blvd SE, Suite C, Bellevue, WA 98006-1262 ~ (425) 998-6998 ~ cooleysmiles.com ~ 10/5/2024 ~ Page Terms:dental office, dental office in bellevue wa, dental clinic
Adults who are 60 or more years old need to consider altering their dietary and exercise habits to prolong their lives and live the healthiest life possible. If you ask seniors how they would like their lives to be, they would tell you they want to be able to do what they want when they want to. One way to live a healthy lifestyle is to care for your dental health. Here are some ways for senior adults to maintain good dental health.