No matter how much we talk about growing old gracefully or searching for the fountain of youth, aging is a fact of life. This does not have to be a terrible thing. In fact, oral health has been linked to the rate at which we seem to age.
Young at Heart and Mouth!
When you eat more processed food, you receive less nutritional support, and your whole body, including your mouth, is more prone to decay. And if you have fewer teeth, or full dentures, it can be harder to eat, so you rely on more processed foods.
When you lose teeth, your face loses bone support and your skin appears to sag and wrinkle much faster. How do you keep yourself looking as young as you feel? Take great care of your teeth!
I recommend these seven tips for oral health:
- Brush with a soft-bristled toothbrush twice a day for two minutes each time.
- Floss daily to reach the plaque that your toothbrush may have missed.
- Rinse with fluoride to help remineralize your enamel.
- If you wear full or partial dentures, make sure you are cleaning them well and often.
- Eat a healthy, balanced diet to help you to look and feel better.
- No smoking. Beyond oral cancers, smoking increases your risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss.
- Visit your dentist twice yearly for cleanings and checkups.
If you are having trouble with your dentures, speak to your dentist about other options, such as implants, that can help keep you feeling and looking more like yourself.
Really, these tips are good advice for any age. Maybe the fountain of youth is really about taking great care of your whole self throughout your life.
Keep Reading, Keep Learning
There is a lot of information out there on aging and proper oral care, especially in the dental implant area. Hopefully, this answers some of your questions. If you are searching for more information on dental implants, read our blog post on this very subject.
~Dr. Chai (a.k.a. Dr. Tooth!)
