Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing MI
Dental health care is an integral component of overall wellness for people of any age but particularly as we get older. Unfortunately, too often seniors neglect their oral health, which leads to serious health complications down the line. Retirement can create unique challenges when it comes to managing dental health care. Today on our blog, Dr. Tenaglia will offer some practical tips for maintaining dental health during retirement.
-
Maintain Regular Check-ups
One of the most important things you can do for your dental health is to maintain regular check-ups with your dentist. This is important throughout your life, whether you are retired or not. It becomes increasingly important as you age since teeth age, too. Scheduling regular appointments for cleanings and check-ups is essential to ensuring your teeth remain healthy as you age. The dentist can use these check-ups to perform regular oral health exams and identify any possible health concerns. Early diagnosis of oral health problems can save both time and money in the long term because it prevents issues from getting out of hand.
-
Ensure Proper Nutrient Intake
Eating a proper diet can play a significant role in maintaining good dental health, especially as you age. Seniors should ensure they have a balanced diet with the right nutrients to support their oral health. This is not drastically different from a younger person. Vitamin D and calcium are essential for older people for strengthening teeth and bones. They also help to prevent tooth decay. A healthy diet with restricted consumption of sugar and simple carbohydrates will go a long way toward promoting oral health.
-
Stay Hydrated
Though it might seem strange, drinking enough water can also help with dental health. Dehydration is common in seniors and can lead to dry mouth. The lack of saliva that accompanies dry mouth can cause tooth decay because saliva works to neutralize the bacteria in the mouth, helping prevent tooth decay. To stave off dry mouth, you can also drink other non-sugar and non-alcoholic beverages, especially those with fluoride. This is an important preventative measure that will also help other areas of your body.
-
Adopt Good Oral Hygiene Practices
Maintaining good oral hygiene practices is important no matter how old you are. These practices include brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and using floss to clean between your teeth to maintain a healthy mouth. Tongue scraping can contribute to better breath and less harmful bacteria in the mouth, and the use of mouthwash can help eliminate plaque and halitosis. The care of dentures adds another element to good oral hygiene. Dentures should be cleaned daily and stored appropriately when not in use.
-
Act Quickly on Dental Issues
Occasionally, issues like tooth sensitivity, dry mouth, and gum disease can occur despite regular dental visits and good oral hygiene. In these cases, it’s important to act quickly to stop these issues from worsening. If you notice any of these signs present, talk to a dentist immediately to avoid further complications.
-
Discuss Medications with Your Dentist
Health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease are common health complications for seniors. These conditions often require medications that can affect dental health by potentially reducing saliva, making a person more susceptible to cavities. Dentists can provide advice or offer treatment options that reduce the impact of these medications on your oral health.
-
Plan for the Future
When planning for retirement, it’s important not to overlook dental care. Consider the cost of oral health care when deciding on health care coverage and insurance plans. Because dental care can be expensive, many seniors struggle with the associated costs. For this reason, seniors should take advantage of their retirement to explore different dental insurance plans. Though Medicare does not provide dental coverage, nor does it offer dental plans for sale, there are specific dental benefits and plans provided for seniors that can help cover a predetermined amount for dental services. Understanding insurance options makes it easier to choose the right plan that best fits your budget and dental health needs.
Dental health is connected to overall health, especially if you are a senior. Maintaining tooth and gum health is very important, and the best way to do that is to eat healthy, stay hydrated, and maintain a regular relationship with your dentist.
If you are a senior and are looking to investigate your options when it comes to dental health and you are in the Okemos or Lansing MI area, give our team a call at (517) 940-8684.