How to Maintain Strong Teeth and Gums as You Age

Our teeth are super important for us- we need it to flash a reassured smile at someone, to chew food properly, to have our face look normal and structured and to be able to talk and freely express ourselves. The teeth themselves are attached to the gums which cement them to our jaw permanently. Our gums are vascularised, which means they have blood in them, while our teeth are bloodless structures. Let us learn how to keep these multi-tasking machines disease and problem free, especially as problems begin to appear when we grow older.

How To Keep Teeth Strong And Gums Healthy Naturally

Our mouth, teeth and gums are natural indicators of overall health- did you know that? Poor dental hygiene can lead to issues like tartar and plaque formation which may hint at deeper medical issues. Gum disease is a leading problem in India. Another fact to know is that almost 50% of Indians have never been to a dentist ever, their whole lives! Many of us remember to brush and floss our teeth and gums but ignore our tongue- this is the epicentre for all bad breath causing bugs. You can try to eat certain kinds of foods that are hard and not sweet or extremely sticky. This means you should have fresh fruits, soft cheeses, bone soup, lots of leafy vegetables and avoid very acidic foods like caffeine containing coffee or tea, citrus fruits and other corrosive foods which can damage enamel over a long time.

Foods That Help Maintain Healthy Teeth And Gums In Older Adults

Your diet is a sure fire way to improve your dental and overall health. You should aim to eat the right kinds of food for best results-

• Foods that are not very acidic like soft cheese, fruits and vegetables are good as they are full of vitamins and minerals essential to maintain oral health.
• You should not drink a lot of coffee, tea or juices as these tend to be sugary and can stain teeth with repeated exposure. You may then have to go for teeth whitening regimes.
• You should aim to drink plenty of water as this will help prevent a dry mouth and also keep saliva amounts normal. Saliva by itself has antibacterial properties, so you should aim for more drool production. 
• You should avoid overly sweet or corrosive food stuff- very sticky and salty snacks are a bad idea though they taste heavenly.
• Your gums need special help apart from brushing and flossing. You need to massage them in a circular motion, everyday in a very gentle manner. This will help reduce inflammation and prevent gum disease. 
• Green tea, black coffee, foods that contain garlic, turmeric, fresh fruits and berries and veggies- they are all great for overall health, including oral goodness. 
• A balanced diet is hence your friend. You could opt for chewing sugar free gum instead of snacking on chips or candy or something similar.

Dental Hygiene Tips For Seniors To Maintain Oral Health

Here are our top dental hygiene tips which will help strengthen your gums and keep your teeth clean and healthy. Senior citizens need more care than usual, so don’t shirk from fulfilling your duties-

• With advancing age, your immune system does not work as well as before- which means damaged gums can lead to infections, thrush, oral cancer etc. The symptoms may all look or feel the same but you should be watchful and get checked at least once a year by a dentist.
• Decaying teeth are major concerns for older individuals as they have fulfilled their daily service every day for over 50 years or so. You should get them addressed ASAP, and if you have issues like gum disease, get that looked at too.
• Halitosis or bad breath is also a major issue for older folks. So brush and floss daily, don’t ignore your tongue and you should be fine.
• Brushing with the right technique and leaving the toothpaste on for at least 2 minutes is more important than just randomly brushing all over. 
• You should begin flossing and continue doing so even if your gums bleed as they will get better soon in a few days.
• The colour of your tooth may also change- it may not be as white as before. Talk to the dentist about teeth whitening creams or gels and see what may work for you.
• You should always brush with a soft bristled toothbrush only and try to floss at least twice a day or after every meal. 
• You can also invest in a good quality mouthwash which contains fluoride and is alcohol free but you should not use too much either. It can dry your mouth out further.
• If you have lost teeth before, then you could check to see if dentures or implants can work for you. 
• If you use dentures, then keep them clean and give your mouth plenty of breaks and don’t wear dentures when you sleep. 
• Poor oral health can also mean that you may have unmanaged diabetes. So, get that sorted too.

Conclusion

You know now that teeth don’t just look pretty but serve many functional aspects as well. Our mouth is generally one of the most bacteria infested spots in our body and hence any cut or poor gum care can result in you suffering from infections. Many older individuals also think that since they no longer have teeth, they won’t need to visit the dentist. Toothless the dragon looked cute in the movie but was he really tooth-less? No! Dentures or implants can be good friends for life. You should consider oil-pulling. Brush in the right way and get your tummy issues sorted for the best results.