Looking back to when you were a child, you may recall being subjected to many lectures from your parents about the importance of brushing your teeth – many of which focused on horror stories wherein too much candy resulted in a child losing all of their teeth. However, taking care of your oral health is important no matter how old you are (especially if you still have a sweet tooth).
In fact, as you get older, it is perhaps more important than ever that you take proper care of your gums and teeth as these habits enable you to protect your health. Good dental hygiene can actually help you fight off common health concerns associated with aging, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even respiratory diseases.
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With that in mind, here are some top tips that you can use to take better care of your teeth as you age.
- Brush your teeth twice a day. By now, the habit of brushing your teeth should almost feel like second nature – but you must uphold these habits no matter what age you may be. You should also ensure that you use high-quality toothpaste to keep your pearly whites pearly white. After brushing your teeth, you should also rinse out your mouth with a quality mouthwash. This can help you break down any bacteria inside your mouth.
- In addition to regular brushing, you can begin to take better care of your oral health by flossing more often. If you’ve always found flossing hard, you may benefit from using an Instafloss machine. This is an automatic flossing device that allows for a 2x deeper clean than traditional floss. Furthemore, the machines are easy to use and much less fiddly.
- Cutting down on your sugar intake is a great way to take better care of both your oral and overall health, especially if you are dealing with conditions such as diabetes. While this does not mean that you cannot enjoy the odd sweet treat from time to time, you should also make an effort to reduce your consumption wherever possible. For example, you could switch to sugar instead of sweetener or buy sugar-free (or reduced sugar) versions of your favorite snacks.
- Another way you can begin to take better care of your teeth, especially their appearance, is by reducing your consumption of food and drink that can easily stain them. For example, this includes products such as coffee, tea, soda, and red wine. Again, you shouldn’t expect to cut these products out entirely but should minimize your consumption of them wherever possible.
- You should also ensure that you visit the dentist regularly, especially if you are experiencing any symptoms that indicate that tooth loss is on its way. This means that your dentist will be able to provide you with the care and support you need to keep your smile looking its best. For example, they could provide you with dentures or similar products. Furthemore, while a trip to the dentist can be a little expensive, the sooner you resolve these issues – the better.