Here’s How to Help Your Teeth Last for a Lifetime

Here’s How to Help Your Teeth Last for a Lifetime

Although there are many options available to restore lost teeth—including dental implants and dentures—it’s best to preserve your natural teeth for a lifelong healthy smile. Many seniors will suffer from tooth loss, but that doesn’t have to be your future. You can preserve the health of your natural teeth with the following guidelines for managing your oral health. 

Don’t slack off on your brushing and flossing routine.

As you get older, it’s easy to get lax with your oral hygiene. However, you should maintain a routine of flossing once every day and brushing your teeth twice daily. If mobility becomes an issue, try using floss picks and special toothbrushes designed to maneuver more easily. 

Manage new and existing medical conditions. 

Your oral health reflects your overall health. Therefore, any health conditions you have could become a problem for your teeth, if you don’t take the right preventive measures. For example, if you have diabetes, you may develop gingivitis, which could progress to serious gum disease and tooth loss. By managing your blood sugar, you can reduce the risk of infection and help keep your teeth intact.  

Keep a strict schedule of dental checkups. 

Regular visits to the dentist should be a part of your healthcare routine. Unfortunately, seniors are more likely to skip their biannual checkups. Staying a schedule as recommended by your dentist for dental cleanings and checkups is important, because these visits will help ensure that any new problems with your oral health are diagnosed early—when they’re most treatable. Additionally, only your dental hygienist can clean your teeth thoroughly enough to fully remove plaque and tartar buildup. 

For exceptional dental care at any age, call the office of Dr. John Carson, DDS at (520) 514-7203. We treat patients of all ages in Tucson, providing general dental care as well as dental implants, sleep apnea treatment, and cosmetic dentistry services.