What Do Elders Need To Know About Dental Hygiene?

As a person ages, dental hygiene changes as well. There are several different natural changes that the mouth goes through with the years. Understanding and anticipating these is an important step to maintaining the health of your smile as you grow older.

It’s important to understand that, although there is nothing wrong with wearing dentures, it is not an inevitable outcome. In most cases, elders can maintain the health of their teeth throughout life and may never have to use dentures, even if they get individual teeth replaced.

What changes can older people expect as they work on their oral hygiene with time?

Let’s look at some of the most common changes and what they mean to overall health.

Things For Elders To Look Out For In Dental Health And Hygiene

All of the following are common when it comes to dental care for elders. If you have symptoms that arise suddenly or are serious enough to concern you, contact a dentist right away — even if they appear on this list.

Gum Sensitivity

Over time, your gums recede from your teeth, making them look slightly larger. During this natural process of receding, however, sensitive oral flesh can be exposed. Depending on the shape and size of a tooth, it may be at risk of complication. Be sure to massage your gums lightly and carefully when brushing.

Tooth Sensitivity

Some increase in sensitivity to hot and cold food is normal over the years. If you find these symptoms distressing, there are special toothpastes and mouthwashes that you can use in order to reduce the seriousness of the symptoms.

Stains and Discoloration

No matter how old you are, stains and discoloration are among the challenges that everyone faces with their teeth. You can resist some stains by changing your diet — avoid dark drinks like coffee and acidic beverages. Cosmetic dentistry can help with deep stains on teeth.

Elders Benefit From A Dentist That They Know And Trust

At Stony Brook Family Dentistry, our goal is to provide the highest quality of dental health service to customers of all ages. We’ve worked with thousands of families from around the Suffolk County area to help restore and safeguard beautiful smiles.

If you have any kind of dental concern, it’s never too late to visit a dentist you trust. Call or email Stony Brook Family Dentistry to set your appointment or discuss your needs. We look forward to helping you!