When it comes to the long-term health of your teeth, there are basically two scenarios to expect as you get older. If you look after your teeth properly throughout your entire life, there’s every chance you will hold onto them permanently. By contrast, if you in any way neglect your teeth or allow positive oral hygiene habits to slip, you may only be left with the kind of teeth you take out and place in a glass at night.
Needless to say, the latter of these two scenarios doesn’t represent the ideal choice for anyone. Nevertheless, there will always be millions for whom it becomes an everyday reality, with their own teeth having lost their strength and resilience as they got older.
Which begs the all-important question – what can you do about it? Start using the best electric toothbrush for receding gums today? Step up to the most expensive toothpaste and mouthwash on the market? Alter what you eat and drink?
The answer lies somewhere in the middle of all of these things and more. The long and short of it being that if you can get into a more proactive lifestyle now in pursuit of better oral health, your teeth will thank you…and go on thanking you for much longer.
Here is a quick rundown of 10 tips from the experts when it comes to holding onto your teeth for as long as possible:
1 – Dietary Choices
First and foremost, it’s absolutely no secret whatsoever that the foods and drinks we choose to consume have a significant impact on our oral health. Which in turn means that the more of your life you spend making healthy and proactive dietary choices, the more likely you are to hold onto your teeth long-term. Foods that are high in sugar and starch have long been associated with harmful effects on the teeth and gums. The same also goes for anything with a high acid content. Avoiding such foods entirely may be impossible, but you can at least cut down a little for the benefit of your teeth.
2 – Flossing
As far as most dentists are concerned, it’s surprising that even to this day the vast majority of people see flossing as something that is a) optional and b) to be carried out periodically. In reality, flossing should be seen as every bit as important as brushing your teeth twice a day. Brushing generally results in at least 30% of the surface of the tooth not being properly cleaned. So regardless of whether you use the best water flosser for gum disease or prefer to get the job done manually, try to view flossing as mandatory…which it is.
3 – Dental Check-Ups
Millions of people of all ages who really know they should be going to the dentist more often never fail to find any and every excuse in the book for doing the exact opposite. The only problem being that to avoid the dentist today is to give any minor problems every opportunity they need to develop and grow into something much more serious. One of the primary examples being tooth loss. Almost everything the dentist does represents a preventative measure to avoid serious problems further down the line. So if you want to hold onto your teeth, there’s no better person to speak to.
4 – Bruxism
In case you were wondering, this is the official medical term for teeth grinding and clenching. People of all ages grind their teeth for a wide variety of reasons – the majority of whom don’t actually realise it, until informed by dentists. For reasons that are plainly obvious, grinding and clenching away on a prolonged basis throughout your life is a sure-fire way of destroying your teeth before their time. If you have any concerns whatsoever about bruxism, speak to your dentist as soon as possible.
5 – Smoking
You probably already know that smoking has the potential to turn teeth a horrible yellow and brown colour. But what you might not realise is that smoking also has a negative effect on blood flow to the mouth, which in turn intensifies the risk of developing a wide variety of quite hideous diseases – including mouth cancer. The long and short of it being therefore that if you smoke, it will take its toll on your teeth.
6 – Gum
Chewing gum is one of the most effective and easiest ways of fighting plaque and other bacteria within the mouth, by producing an abundance of saliva. Interestingly, studies have also shown that the way in which chewing gum stimulates blood flow can actually have a positive effect on alertness at the same time.
7 – Use A Softer Brush
Particularly as you get older, it becomes crucially important to consider switching to a softer brush. Hard and abrasive bristles are not highly recommended at any time in life, though when teeth age and naturally begin to lose some of their strength and resistance, a toothbrush that is too hard really can cause enormous damage.
8 – Use A Better Brush
While on the subject, dentists also state that the vast majority of people could really do with setting things up in terms of overall toothbrush quality. The electric toothbrushes on the market today are slowly but surely creeping towards being able to deliver the same kinds of outstanding results as a professional cleaning carried out by a dentist. A quality brush is of the utmost importance when it comes to protecting and retaining teeth for longer.
9 – Drinking Straws
A quick tip but an important tip nonetheless, if you plan on drinking anything that is high in sugar or acid, you might want to think about using a straw. This can help ensure that the liquid and anything potentially harmful it contains is channelled safely to the back of the mouth, rather than being smothered all over your teeth.
10 – Gum Disease
Last but not least, it is crucial to remember that gum disease continues to be the number one cause of tooth loss in adults of all ages. Gum disease in older people in particular has a tendency to lead to rapid tooth loss, if the condition isn’t acknowledged and addressed as early as possible. Gum disease prevention is of course the most advisable strategy of all, but any signs of bleeding from the gums should not be overlooked but instead brought to the attention of the professionals.
