Santa Cruz, Scotts Valley CA
Aging takes a toll on the human body, and, unfortunately, our teeth are no exception. Strong oral health is important at any age. An oral health regime of brushing twice a day, flossing once daily and visiting the dentist for checkups and cleanings twice a year should be a lifelong practice. With age comes increased chances of tooth decay, injuries to teeth and other dental diseases, like gum disease. These issues can go undetected, opening the door to severe dental damage, if you skip your regular dental exams.
Let’s look at ways to ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy as you age:
- Brushing twice a day is the cornerstone of a healthy oral hygiene regimen. Make sure you’re using the proper tools. Our family dentist in Scotts Valley recommends a soft-bristled toothbrush over a hard or medium-bristled one. An ADA-approved electric toothbrush is also a great option. Use toothpaste with fluoride, and while adding an oral rinse to your practice isn’t absolutely necessary, it can provide a boost to your oral healthcare routine. Partial or full dentures should be cleaned at least once a day.
- Floss once a day to remove food particles and bacteria from between your teeth. While many people skip flossing, it is a critical component of maintaining healthy teeth and gums. While brushing is important, sometimes a toothbrush misses between the teeth. Our Santa Cruz dentist recommends flossing after the last meal of the day to ensure no food particles are hiding between the teeth for hours while you sleep. While string floss is most effective, you can also use a water flosser.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and rinse away harmful bacteria and food particles from your mouth. Water also helps you stave off dry mouth which can sometimes become a problem with age. Medication is often the culprit. Dry mouth makes you more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. Consider sipping on water instead of sugary beverages throughout the day to benefit your physical and oral health.
- Visit your Santa Cruz family dentist at least twice a year for dental checkups and cleanings. These visits allow our dentists to examine your teeth and mouth and identify any potential dental issues that need treatment. Ignoring problems like cavities or damaged teeth will worsen without treatment. Even if you wear a complete set of dentures, your gums and jawbone health should be evaluated, and our dentist will want to screen for oral cancer during routine visits, too.
SENIOR DENTIST IN SCOTTS VALLEY, SANTA CRUZ, AND LOS GATOS, CALIFORNIA
Maintaining your oral health is a lifelong commitment, and it becomes even more important with age because we become more susceptible to dental damage, decay or loss of teeth. This can age us beyond our actual years. Maintaining a beautiful, youthful, healthy smile is a breeze when you take care of your teeth and gums and visit us at Ebrahimian Integrative Dentistry twice a year. For more information about ways to care for your teeth as you age, or to schedule a routine checkup and cleaning, call us at (831) 824-5111, or reach out to us online.
