Dental Care Tips For The Elderly And Their Caregivers

As we grow old, our body changes. Just like the rest of our body, our gums and teeth also senesce. About 250 million people suffer from the loss of natural teeth, also called edentulousness, which is about forty percent of the people in Europe, the United States and Japan combined, according to the American Dental Hygienists Association.

The older a person becomes, the more likely we are to lose our teeth. The use of dentures is a good substitute in many cases, however, in most situations the elderly not only lose their teeth, but they lose their ability to care for them, too.

What Makes Elderly Dental Care So Hard?

For the elderly, numerous factors can lead to their inability to maintain oral health. In situations where the individual has dentures, he or she may not follow the proper steps for cleansing dentures, due to limited funds or inexperience.

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Sometimes, arthritis makes it hard to use a toothbrush. Others find the use of traditional toothbrushes too hard to use due to dexterity limitations. In other cases, they simply forget to care for their teeth, even if it is something they have done their entire life.

How to Improve the Oral Health of the Elderly

Whether you are an elderly citizen who wants to improve your dental care, or are responsible for caring for someone, there are steps you can take to improve oral health.

Caregivers need to learn the care and special needs of aging teeth. The Ohio Dental Association offers a program called Smiles for Seniors Program. It teaches caregivers how to help in situations where Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and strokes interfere with the ability of these individuals to care for their teeth.

For those with dexterity problems, the use of an electric toothbrush can be helpful. These toothbrushes are excellent at removing plaque and aid in stimulating gums. They are often easier to use, too.

For people who have limited use of their hands due to arthritis or other conditions, try adaptations. Attach a bicycle grip to the handle to make it easier to grasp and hold.

If dentures are used, ensure all products necessary for cleaning them are available. The use of any harsh substance, including typical household cleaners, can damage dentures, so it is preferable to use only a denture powder or paste.
The elderly often face increasing obstacles about how to maintain their oral health. Learning new techniques and adaptations like these can make a huge difference for maintaining a confident and healthy smile.

Arthur Willet is a health writer on a variety of health and dental care topics. Discover high quality information on similar topics from an authoritative dentist Greeley and Weld County, Colorado. He offers dedicated dental care for your family's good health, and is one of the top Greeley Dentists specializing in personalized and preventative oral hygiene services.

In other cases, they simply forget to care for their teeth, even if it is something they have done their entire life.

Caregivers need to learn the care and special needs of aging teeth. It teaches caregivers how to help in situations where Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and strokes interfere with the ability of these individuals to care for their teeth.

Arthur Willet is a health writer on a variety of health and dental care topics. He offers dedicated dental care for your family's good health, and is one of the top Greeley Dentists specializing in personalized and preventative oral hygiene services.

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An Overview Of Dental Care

If you are wondering what dental care actually stands for, you can refer to it as the practice of maintaining your teeth and mouth clean. The primary purpose of dental care is to prevent dental health problems, such as bad breath, cavities and gingivitis.

As you may know, tooth brushing is the most common activity that you can perform to care for your teeth at home. You should make sure that this simple, yet effective, dental care process happens two to three times a day. Brushing your teeth will prevent not only cavities and bad breath, but also gum diseases and gingivitis.

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People with a precarious dental hygiene are prone to severe gum disease - a condition that leads to tooth loss. Constant tooth brushing prevents periodontitis and the associated tooth decay.

Professional Dental Care Recommendations

Your dentist will explain that you will have to change your toothbrush every two months. If you fail to do so, you will allow harmful bacteria to reach dangerous levels and you may experience gum bleeding. In a similar way, you should try to use a different toothpaste at least twice a year.

If you want your dental care to be as effective as possible, you should see your dentist every six months. The first reason to do this is to have a regular checkup, just so your dentist can see if your teeth are healthy. The second reason is to have your teeth professionally cleaned.

A professional dental cleaning includes tooth polishing, as well as tooth scaling. Your dentist will see if there is any accumulation of tartar on the inner sides of your teeth. In case tartar is present and it reaches your gum margins, your dental hygienist will also perform a debridement.

Dental care also involves the removal of plaque, which is a yellow film that tends to form on both the teeth and the gums. Plaque can seriously affect your dental health, as it contains bacteria that converts sugars, which are present in your food, into an acid that removes essential minerals from your teeth.

As you may know, tooth brushing is the most common activity that you can perform to care for your teeth at home. Brushing your teeth will prevent not only cavities and bad breath, but also gum diseases and gingivitis.

The first reason to do this is to have a regular checkup, just so your dentist can see if your teeth are healthy. A professional dental cleaning includes tooth polishing, as well as tooth scaling.

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