Dental care
has come a long way during our lifetime.
My parents never went to the dentist unless an aching tooth could not be
treated in any other way. There was no such thing as a routine checkup for us
kids and we didn’t go to the dentist unless there was pain involved. The cost
was more than working people could afford, dental insurance was unheard of, and
of course the pain associated with getting a cavity filled without anesthesia
did not exactly make it a popular place to go.
Dentistry is different now,
although many seniors are still reluctant to make dental visits a routine
occurrence. We lived lives without braces, without special whitening treatments
and without cosmetic procedures, and we wonder what all of the fuss is about. Our children clamor for teeth whitening and
braces but for us, keeping our original molars until death do us part is the
driving force. Thanks to pain free dentistry we have been
brought into the fold and now recognize that taking care of our teeth, mouth
and gums is more than a cosmetic effort.
It is hard to make dental
care a priority as we move into our 60s and 70’s and 80s. Routine visits, brushing, flossing and all
sorts of anti-plaque and fluoride rinses are quite costly and we wonder if it
is worth the effort. Keeping motivated is important though and a little prevention can go along
way. Brushing and flossing are not only
important to your teeth but can also prevent
diseases in other parts of your body.
The two most common concerns
are tooth decay and periodontal disease. Tooth decay is a concern at any age and it
continues on as you age. Periodontal disease affects the gums and even if you
have strong teeth your gums can be problematic.
Common causes of tooth decay include a diet high in
sweets/carbohydrates, lack of dental care, smoking and fluoride
deficiency. As people get older they
produce less saliva which means the teeth are even more susceptible to tooth
decay. Periodontal disease, a chronic
infection of the gums is common and affects 80% or the adult population. If untreated gum disease can cause all sorts
of trouble effecting the teeth, gums and bone structure. The end result is that it can contribute to
losing teeth and can exacerbate heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory
infections.
The advice is the same as it
always has been:
- Brush your teeth
- Floss
- See your dentist every six months
- Adequate nutrition including calcium to help
support strong teeth - Avoid carbonated drinks as much as possible
The most important thing is
disavowing yourself of the idea that dentist visits are just for kids; the
older you get the more important good dental care is. An unhealthy mouth affects your whole
body. Aggressive dental care can reduce
the risks of some common and serious conditions.
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