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Tips For Senior Oral Health

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As you age, dental care is still a very important part of your health, but the issues that you're most likely to deal with may evolve over time. Here are some tips and concerns that are common for senior dental health. 

Get Screened for Oral Diseases

One area that becomes important for seniors is getting regularly screened for dental issues. For instance, periodontal disease (or gum disease) is an illness that can come with cumulative damage to your gums over many years; seniors should make sure that they aren't suffering from this disease on a yearly basis. Your dentist should also screen your teeth to see if you are suffering from a loss of bone density in your teeth. This can make your teeth vulnerable to cavities as the enamel and tooth material is not as impenetrable as it once was. 

Another thing that the dentist will look for in a routine checkup is signs of oral cancer. This can be spotted during your yearly tooth cleaning, and since this disease can be deadly, it's crucial to catch it early on through yearly screenings. 

Deal with Brushing Sensitivity Early

Brushing sensitivity can be a big problem for seniors if it affects your ability to brush and floss correctly. If you have been having toothaches or sensitivity with brushing, consider visiting your dentist to request desensitizing toothpaste. This helps to soothe the nerves in your gum tissue when you brush, and along with a soft-bristle brush, it can make brushing much more comfortable. 

Combat Decay Aggressively

Another thing to be aware of is the importance of fighting off tooth decay for seniors. If your immune system is compromised as an older adult, cavities and root decay can contribute to an ongoing, low-level infection that makes your health vulnerable. Be sure that you treat any cavities aggressively to make sure that your health isn't affected. If the cavity is too big to be filled effectively, tooth extraction is preferable because it removes the infected tooth before the decay spreads or causes a serious infection.

While dealing with cavities and root canals individually is an option, dentures should also be considered. Getting dentures essentially wipes out any ongoing cavities that you have, making it easy to treat multiple tooth decay areas at once. They can also make dental care simpler for seniors; instead of dealing with weakened bone tissue in your existing teeth, you can replace them with strong porcelain material that is resistant to decay. 

Contact a company like Renovo Endodontic Studio for more information.


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