It’s no secret that to live a longer and fuller life; you need to maintain good mental and physical health and wellness. This commitment to wellness extends to your oral health as well.
At Haven Health, we help your aging loved ones by providing the care they deserve in a safe, supportive, and structured environment. As a leading assisted living facility, our skilled nursing services extend to dental care, ensuring all residents have the healthiest smile possible.
Today, we’ll go over dental care tips for the elderly looking to get their best smile yet.
What Are Ways To Help the Elderly Care for Their Teeth?
Surprisingly, elderly dental care tips are relatively the same as dental tips for anyone else — with a couple of added tips, of course. For starters, regular brushing and flossing are important at any age. Elderly individuals should keep up with their dental care by brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day.
For seniors living with a health condition like diabetes or heart disease, it’s especially important to maintain oral health habits. Often, these health conditions require medications that can cause dental concerns. Staying on top of your oral health can ensure you don’t have to deal with the unintended consequences of the other health conditions you’re living with.
Do Elderly People Go to the Dentist?
Yes, older adults and seniors should continue going to the dentist regularly. Regular bi-annual checkups are the best way to stay on top of existing oral health concerns and will help your dentist identify new concerns that may pop up as you age.
It’s especially important to keep up with your dentist appointment if you have dental implants, wear dentures, or have other dental health devices installed. A dentist will ensure that any changes in your oral health are addressed appropriately.
What Are the Best Ways To Take Care of Dentures for Elderly People?
If you have dentures, knowing how to take care of them is essential to maintain the best oral health possible. Follow these simple steps to care for your dentures properly:
- Take out and rinse your dentures after you eat: You can do this by simply running warm water over your dentures to get rid of any food particles that remain
- Handle your dentures carefully: Don’t bend or damage your dentures, as this will have an impact on your bite and the overall feeling
- Clean your mouth after you remove your dentures: This helps keep your mouth and gums free and clear from bacteria that can lead to other oral health issues
- Brush your dentures daily: Soak the dentures in a gentle solution or brush them with a soft bristle toothbrush. This helps keep the dentures free of harmful bacteria buildup.
- Soak your dentures overnight: Soak your dentures to help maintain their shape. Follow your guidelines on how to soak your dentures so they retain their form for longer.
- Keep up with regular checkups: Keep up with your dentist appointment and bring up any concerns you may have about loose fitting dentures, irritation, or other concerns you may feel about your dentures
Why Is Dental Care Important for the Elderly?
Dental care is important regardless of age because assessing and addressing dental health concerns that pop up can stop those issues from becoming larger.
As we age, our natural teeth become more vulnerable to health concerns; many individuals will find themselves in need of dental implants or dentures to replace missing teeth. It’s not just the cosmetics of teeth that point to concern for elderly patients, but overall mouth and gum health.
Your dentist will evaluate your oral health and attention for symptoms such as:
- New spots in your mouth, on your lips, or around your throat
- Numbness on your tongue or mouth
- Issues pertaining to chewing, swallowing, or moving your tongue or jaw
- Issues with your overall gum health
- Dry mouth
If your loved one is in a skilled nursing facility or assisted living facility, it’s important to consider these elderly care tips and ensure you or your loved one is receiving the dental care they deserve.
Get more information on elderly dental care when you contact Haven Health. Discover how we’ve become one of the best assisted living facilities in the area and how we can serve you or your loved one.
Contact Haven Health to learn more.
Sources:
Denture Care: How Do I Clean Dentures? (2024).
Diabetes & Oral Health. (2023).
Mouth Sores. (2024).