What are Oral Hygiene Tips for Senior Citizens?

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Baby boomers are a part of the generation who were born between the 1940s to 1960s and it has been clear that they have become old to take care of their dental health. It might be possible that they think that they have missed the chance to protect their oral health. However, this is not true, you can always take steps to make your dental health better. It might include different techniques but there will be some methods through which you can maintain your dental health. 

In this article, we will understand some of the common tips for baby boomers and how they can maintain their oral hygiene. If you are in Glen Ridge, then it would be better to consult a dental practice in Glen Ridge to ensure that you are getting all the required oral hygiene treatment for your dental health. 

What are Oral Health Risks for Baby Boomers? 

Seniors are at more risk of dental health issues but it is not the same for all seniors. The case may be different for various people. If they would have had good oral hygiene habits throughout their life, then the chances of dental health issues would have been less. However, generally, there are some common issues that can be found among seniors. 

Gum Recession and Tooth Loss

As you age, tooth loss and receding gums become inevitable. There are very few older people who can retain their natural teeth even at a higher risk of gum disease and tooth loss. As per research, it is seen that the rate of gum receding is higher among seniors than children. 

Dry Mouth

It is also a common problem that senior people can face. Saliva is very important to keep the bacteria away from your mouth. But if there is no saliva formation, then it can lead to several problems such as gum disease and tooth decay. As per the medical history of a person, over-the-counter medicines are prescribed in such cases to generate artificial saliva so that the dry mouth can be solved. 

Oral Cancer

Oral cancer is not much related to age, but if there is a high usage of tobacco, then it can lead to cancer at later stages of life. People with the age of more than 45 years old can face the challenge of oral cancer if there has been more consumption of tobacco throughout their lives. 

What are the Oral Hygiene Tips for Baby Boomers? 

Oral hygiene tips should be followed by everyone no matter the age group. It will help you to protect your smile. So, some of the oral hygiene tips for seniors are as follows. 

  • As seniors too, you must continue to brush and floss regularly to maintain good oral hygiene. Brush twice a day and floss at least once daily to make sure that there are clean and healthy teeth. Additionally, you must also schedule a visit to the doctor at least once in six months. 
  • Get an oral cancer screening during your regular dental checkups. It will be helpful because if there are any signs of oral cancer, then it will be detected soon. 
  • Strengthen your smile with dental implants. If there is a tooth loss, then you can use implants to restore your smile and also to offer a natural look to your teeth. 
  • Use fluoride mouthwash to ensure that your teeth are clean from all the ways. Mouthwash reaches the place where the brushes cannot reach, so it would be an effective solution for dental hygiene. 
  • If there is tooth loss, then you should go for dentures so that they will at least help you in eating, chewing, and smiling. 

So, these are some of the oral health tips that you can follow to ensure that you have healthy teeth during your old age period. 

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