If you have a grandparent or relative in assisted living, you’re probably doing all you can to ensure that they stay healthy and cared for. However, their oral health can often go overlooked, which is why a dentist for seniors in Reynoldsville has decided to compile a list of the best ways you can help your love one maintain their dental hygiene. Read on to learn more!
Preventive Biannual Dental Checkups and Cleanings
Checkups and cleanings are important for patients of all ages, however they become especially significant when you’re older. As time passes, your teeth go through natural wear and tear, which makes it more likely for your smile to have senior oral health issues in Reynoldsburg like decay and disease. Thankfully, routine checkups give your dentist an opportunity to catch and treat any problems while they’re still small, saving your loved one time and money in the process. Additionally, dental checkups include oral cancer screenings, making these biannual appointments potentially lifesaving.
At-Home Oral healthcare
In addition to regular dental visits, your loved one must take care of their smile at their assisted living home—whether it’s natural or prosthetic. Typically, caretakers will assist with gentle brushing and flossing to clean away daily plaque and bacteria. Be sure that they are using a fluoridated toothpaste to protect the tooth enamel of your older family member. You can also encourage your loved one to eat a diet low in sugar, which automatically decreases their risk of decay and cavities. For older patients with dexterity issues, water flossers or pre-strung floss picks can come in handy.
Replace Missing Teeth
Periodontal disease (gum disease) is the most common cause for tooth loss, and this issue is prevalent with those who are the age of 65 and above. Unfortunately, missing teeth can affect much more than just your loved one’s appearance. In fact, even a single missing tooth can lead to a variety of problems, misalignment of existing teeth, abnormal wear and tear on enamel, and additional tooth loss. Your teeth use each other as supports, so when even one tooth is lost, the entire smile is at risk of shifting out of place. Additionally, tooth roots stimulate the jawbone to keep it healthy and strong. When teeth are lost, the jawbone deteriorates.
Thankfully, there are various tooth replacement options to keep your older family member’s smile healthy and strong. Primarily, dental implants are the only replacement that restores the teeth from the roots up for the most lifelike replacement. Many times, dental implants can be combined with dentures to give your loved one the most stable and beautiful smile restoration available.
Remember this information and use it to help the senior in your life enjoy better quality of life with good dental hygiene.
Meet the Dentist
Dr. Walt Mick is a highly trained dentist who has the experience and training to treat even the toughest of cases. He takes pride in his ability to provide seniors with comprehensive, friendly, and gentle dentistry. To schedule an appointment for you or a loved one, Dr. Mick can be reached through his website or by phone at (614) 864-4618.