As we age, we have to pay a lot more close attention to our overall health. Since our oral health becomes weaker as we get older, we must do our part to keep our teeth as healthy as possible.
Devoted Family Dental has outlined a few tips on how your teeth can continue to stay strong and healthy as you age:
Nutrition
We can’t stress enough how important nutrition is to your oral health. Anything you put in your mouth directly affects your teeth and gums. If you’re not choosing the right foods to eat, you’re putting your teeth in danger of decay. Germs and bacteria thrive on starches and sugars, so staying away from these types of foods is ideal.
Floss
It’s no surprise that many of us forget to floss. Unfortunately, not flossing is causing a lot of harm to your teeth. People who don’t floss are only cleaning 60 percent of the tooth’s surface. However, even individuals who do floss may not be doing it correctly. To remove plaque the right way, you must floss like a C around the tooth. This shape allows the floss to reach between the contact points of the teeth.
Grinding & Clenching
Grinding and clenching your teeth is one of the worst things you can do. When you do this, you’re putting yourself at risk of tooth decay, tooth sensitivity and damage to the jaw point. Treating this early on will keep you from severely damaging your teeth.
Routine Checkups
While most of us fear dental checkups, we should really be afraid of the long term negative effects not going to the dentist can cause. Trips to the dentist can be painful, but it’s better to catch issues before they become severe. Having routine checkups is key to maintaining oral health.
Smoking
Do you smoke? If you do, you’re reducing blood flow to your mouth, which puts you at a higher chance of developing periodontal disease and oral cancers. Not to mention that smoking causes bad breath and yellow teeth.
Get a Soft Toothbrush
Your teeth may be strong, but you should never use a hard toothbrush. Using a hard toothbrush causes abrasion to your teeth’s enamel. When this occurs, you expose your dentine and your teeth appear more yellow.
The key to having long lasting healthy teeth is to live a hearty life. Your nutrition and lifestyle play a major role in your oral health.