Oral Hygiene Tips for Middle-Aged People

Neglecting your oral hygiene leads to oral health problems and may cause serious health problems in other areas of the body. For instance, severe untreated gum disease increases heart disease, diabetes, pneumonia, and stroke.

Good oral hygiene practices at home and the dentist near you preserve your natural teeth for a longer time. It also helps to lower the risk factors of other diseases linked to poor oral health. Unfortunately, keeping up with routine dental health practices becomes difficult, and their oral health suffers as people get older.

Why Oral Hygiene Declines In Middle-Aged Individuals

Several middle-aged and older people have poor oral hygiene due to some of the following reasons:

• Arthritis of the hands make it harder to floss and brush as required
• Lack of finances or dental insurance to help attend regular dental exams
• A disability that hinders them from practicing their daily oral care or visiting the dentist routinely
• Suffering from dementia or other conditions that cause them to forget to keep up with their oral hygiene

Oral Health Risks for Middle-Aged People

Middle-aged people should go for regular dental checkups at a family dentist near them, as they are more susceptible to the oral health issues below.

• Dry mouth
• Gum disease
• Tooth sensitivity
• Tooth loss
• Oral cancer
• Darkened teeth caused by thinning of the enamel or staining
• An overgrowth of Candida in the mouth.

Oral Hygiene Tips for Middle-Aged People

Here are simple steps that older adults or their caregivers can follow to protect their gums and teeth from oral health issues.

• Brush for at least two minutes twice every day, in the morning and before bed. You can use an electric toothbrush or a soft-bristled one to clean your mouththoroughly. The dentist in Queen Creek, AZ, can equip individuals suffering from arthritis with devices and methods to help them maintain their oral hygiene.
• Use fluoride toothpaste in your daily oral care. In addition, drinking tap water that contains fluoride regularly can help protect your teeth.
• Floss between your teeth every day using an interdental toothbrush, flossing device, or a pick.
• Rinse your mouth with an antibacterial mouthwash to help reduce the buildup of plaque in your mouth.
• Attend regular dental exams and cleaning so that your dentist can address existing or incoming problems before they cause further issues. Then, a preventive plan to maintain oral hygiene can be developed.
• Consult your dentist for personalized instructions on maintaining your oral hygiene as the oral health needs differ in individuals.
• Keep your mouth hydrated, especially if you suffer from a dry mouth. You may change the medication causing this condition, chew sugarless gum, or drink a lot of water.
• Consume healthy foods and drinks. Avoid sugary ones as they increase bacteria production in the mouth.
• Take the recommended amount of calcium everyday to prevent osteoporosis, as it can affect your jawbone and teeth.
• Enlist the help of a caregiver to help brush and floss your teeth daily if you cannot do it yourself.
• Avoid all tobacco products as they cause several dental health issues and increase throat and oral cancer risk.

Good and Bad Oral Hygiene Habits

Below are some good oral hygiene habits to help you take care of your teeth.

• Brush your teeth in the evening before bed to get rid of bacteria and plaque accumulated during the day.
• As you clean your teeth, move the toothbrush in a gentle circular motion to rid them of plaque.
• Brush twice daily using fluoride toothpaste and floss at least once each day.
• Clean your tongue gently with your brush to avoid a bad odor.
• Use a mouthwash to reduce bacteria in the mouth and clean areas hard to reach using a toothbrush.
• Drink some water after every meal to rinse your teeth of sticky and acidic foods or beverages.

Some bad oral hygiene habits include:

• Brushing the teeth too hard damages them and irritates your gums
• Not brushing, flossing, or rinsing your mouth properly

Protect Your Teeth with Alexander Family Dental

Some of the services offered at our dentistry are oral cancer screenings, periodontal treatment, partial and full dentures,dental implant restorations, fluoride treatment, tooth sealants, digital x-rays, root canals, dental crowns, veneers and bridges and inlays, and onlays.