As you age, you will enter into varying stages of life. With every new stage of life comes new mental and physical changes that transpire as our minds and bodies mature. While these changes are necessary in order to continue progressing through life, there are certain areas that should stay the same because of how indispensable they are in sustaining your mental and physical health. Oral hygiene is one area that, no matter what stage of life you are in, should always be a priority.
If you value oral hygiene throughout your lifetime, making it an essential part of your daily routine, you are taking preventative measures that will protect you not only from dental issues, but could work to decrease the amount of health complications you could experience later in life. Oral health becomes more challenging to manage and sustain when you are older, so caring for your teeth and gum health is important at every age.
75 percent of elderly adults over the age of 60 only have a small fraction of their original teeth remaining. While it’s natural to experience tooth loss at this stage in life, there are some serious side effects that could result from severe dental issues. There are also oral complications that are common in adults and seniors that you should be specifically mindful of as you practice good oral hygiene.
Common Dental Issues
Your teeth and gums are put through a great deal of wear and tear as you age, exposing them to a myriad of potential complications. Not only will these complications cause discomfort inside your mouth, they also have serious medical side effects:
Gum Disease And Cardiovascular Disease
A buildup of plaque will eventually damage your gums, causing them to recede away from your teeth, causing pockets by the roots that can collect plaque, food particles, and other bacteria. This leaves gums swollen, red, and prone to bleeding. If not taken care of, bacteria can enter into the bloodstream, which is why individuals who have poor oral health are predisposed to serious cardiovascular diseases.
Missing, Cracked, Or Broken Teeth And Weight Loss
Nothing will cause tooth sensitivity more severely than having missing, cracked, or broken teeth. It doesn’t take long for this to become excruciatingly painful, making it difficult to consume food. If you are unable to eat properly, you will not be ingesting the appropriate amount of nutrients, which could lead to accelerated and unsafe weight loss.
Prioritizing oral hygiene at every stage of life is going to help you prevent these dental issues while also guarding your body from these preventable ailments. When caught early, the dental issues outlined above are easily corrected. In addition to your own preventative measures, you should also see a dentist regularly so that they can keep an eye out for any potential warning signs of future aggravation.