Healthy Teeth at Any Age

Take Care of your teeth now and they will serve you for years to come! Teeth were designed to last a lifetime when cared for and cleaned appropriately. Do not think that with the onset of adulthood that you can start ignoring your teeth.

Lack of proper dental care can lead to: cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss. Decay and cavities are possible no matter what the age of the teeth, from the 2 year old to the centurion. Without strong teeth nutrition can also suffer by making it more difficult to eat a wide variety of foods. Improper cleaning and gum disease will lead to decay.

Flossing is important for good dental health. Flossing helps to keep gum disease at bay. Infections that reside in the gums and bone that holds teeth in place is called gum disease. Gum disease, also known as periodontal or gingival disease, causes gums to swell and bleed. If left untreated gum disease can lead to the loss of teeth. There is also a link between the health of your teeth and gums and heart disease, so the importance of good oral hygiene is paramount.

Flossing requires a bit of flexibility, fine motor control and coordination. Thankfully dental appliances now include floss on handles, available at the pharmacy, making the process of flossing easier.

Older adults often believe that it’s natural for their teeth to fall out as they age. This is just not true. But if you do lose teeth, do not despair, you have options.

Many older adults have already lost their teeth and have had dentures fitted. Once past the ‘breaking in’ period people often get very used to using these appliances to help them eat better and retain the shape of their mouths and lips. But as we age our mouths do change shape and dentures may need to be adjusted or replaced.

Denture can be expensive so take care of them to help them last longer and look better. They should be cleaned each day, just as the natural teeth are cleaned. Dental implants can also be used to help retain the shape of the mouth and improve nutrition. The dentist will give direction on the care of these implants.

Regular visits to the dentist can help find problems early so they can be treated.

No matter what your age teeth should be brushed twice a day and flossed once daily. Those who use tobacco products should stop to protect the health of their teeth. Tobacco stains the enamel and is a risk factor for oral cancer, something people over 40 already have a higher risk of developing.

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HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our blood alcohol, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years. Our team of health professionals, and researchers use peer reviewed studies as source elements in our articles. Our high quality content has been featured in a number of leading websites, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Live Strong, GQ, and many more.

steven crawford
9. October 2009
steven crawford
9. October 2009
Bleeding gums is also a sign of periodontal disease. If you're experiencing this, I strongly suggest to visit a dentist.

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Written by HealthStatus Team
Medical Writer & Editor

HealthStatus has been operating since 1998 providing the best interactive health tools on the Internet, millions of visitors have used our blood alcohol, body fat and calories burned calculators. The HealthStatus editorial team has continued that commitment to excellence by providing our visitors with easy to understand high quality health content for many years. Our team of health professionals, and researchers use peer reviewed studies as source elements in our articles. Our high quality content has been featured in a number of leading websites, USA Today, the Chicago Tribune, Live Strong, GQ, and many more.

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