As you likely know, senior health and wellness includes many things including looking at our habits around senior dental care. Our teeth like the rest of our bodies, should be part of a life long commitment. However, we know that as we age sometimes it isn’t as easy as it used to be to maintain good oral hygiene.
They say “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” but you need to practice good dental habits to keep extra dentist visits away!
Times have certainly changed and there are many products available now to help you maintain good oral hygiene, improving senior dental care for all.
Senior Dental Care Ideas
Flossing picks are much easier to use than regular dental floss and come in many colours and styles to make them kind of fun. Quick and easy on your hands, too!
Water flossers also known as water picks are a great and easy way to floss by simply placing the pick in your mouth and flossing occurs with pressured water.
When brushing is cumbersome, oral rinses provide some initial cleaning and can kill bacteria which causes oral hygiene issues. A rinse should not be used as a substitute for actual brushing but rather used when you just don’t feel up to proper brushing.
Morning and evening use of mouthwash not only leaves your mouth feeling clean and nice, it also helps kill germs and bacteria, that can negatively impact your overall health and oral hygiene.
Out and about and not able to brush or floss? A simple rinsing of your mouth with water in the interim can help to wash away food particles and germs.
If tooth sensitivity is an issue, there are many toothpastes and toothbrushes for sensitive teeth worth trying.
Some medications cause dry mouths especially in seniors. Talk to your doctor about an alternative or options to address a dry mouth. Dry mouths in seniors can significantly impact the health of your teeth and gums.
Of course, regular check ups with the dentist are key and the discussion of a dry mouth or any other oral hygiene issue should be discussed with your dentist.
For those who have dentures, make sure you are following a daily cleansing routine and watch for any mouth sores. Speak to your doctor or dentist if you feel that something may not be quite right.
Rinsing with warm water with some salt in it on a regular basis helps keep gum inflammation down and is easy enough to do. Just don’t swallow that salt water! There are also oral rinses available from most pharmacies that target gum inflammation as well.
Remember you should be brushing with a fluoride toothpaste at least two times a day and flossing as well. Some of these tips should help make senior dental care easier for you and keep you smiling.
