Elderly people should pay more attention to dental health
Aging is part of the laws of nature that no one can avoid. As age increases, the risk of diseases increases, especially dental problems. Without proper dental care, older people may encounter problems such as tooth decay, tooth enamel erosion or gum disease.
Proper nutrition
Diet is very important for the oral health of the elderly. Vegetables and fruits provide a lot of vitamins that are good for teeth and gums, and also help clean teeth after eating. Elderly people should still limit eating sweet foods, especially candies because they easily stick and cause tooth decay, and eat fresh fruit instead.
The best time to eat fruit is 1 hour before the main meal. This time will help avoid leukocytosis reactions and protect the body's immune system. Older people should not eat too much at one meal, but it is best to divide it into several meals. You should eat a full range of substances: protein (meat, milk, tofu, eggs, shrimp, crab), fat (vegetable oil; must minimize intake of animal fat and viscera), vitamins (fruit), Mineral salts.
In addition, after each meal, you should clean your teeth with dental floss and a brush to prevent food from getting stuck on your teeth and gums, preventing bacteria from attacking and destroying tooth enamel and causing tooth decay.
Prevent periodontal disease
Leftover food and cigarette smoke are the main causes of bacterial plaque that causes periodontal disease. If your teeth are not cleaned every day, plaque will gradually accumulate and damage your gums, causing gingivitis.
Preventing periodontal disease in the elderly
This is the initial symptom of periodontal disease. On the surface, it seems that the tooth is still intact, but in fact the tissues and supporting membranes around the tooth root (such as gums, tooth root enamel, bone, ligaments) have been destroyed. Teeth no longer have a solid support, so they slowly loosen and become thinner over time.
Patients with periodontal disease will have common symptoms such as swollen gums, pus pockets containing lots of bacteria, and bad breath. To prevent periodontal disease, you should take good care of your teeth and gums, have regular check-ups at the dental center and have your teeth scaled every 6 months. Besides, you should only eat soft, less sweet foods.
Dental Implant in case of tooth loss
Tooth loss is a common condition that many elderly people encounter. If teeth are lost for a long time, the remaining teeth will be misaligned, causing jaw bone loss, and also disrupting the bite, making it difficult to brush teeth cleanly. Therefore, even if they lose teeth for any reason, the elderly should go to a dental facility for examination and tooth restoration 1 month later.
Performing Implants for elderly people with missing teeth
Currently, the most optimal treatment method for tooth loss is dental implant technology. This method can treat many different cases such as single tooth loss, multiple tooth loss, congenital toothlessness, long-term tooth loss, or even complete tooth loss.
Dental Implants help prevent jaw bone loss, regenerate tooth aesthetics, chew food exactly like real teeth and can last a lifetime if properly cared for.
See more: All-on-4 implant - The complete dental restoration method for the elderly
Prevent cancer
The older people get, the higher their risk of getting cancers of the mouth, tongue, lips, and throat. The best way to prevent this problem is to stop smoking and drink alcohol in moderation. In addition, you should also regularly use lip balm along with sunscreen every time you go out.
Prevent cancer in the elderly
Painful symptoms are not an early sign of cancer, so you should have regular dental visits to have your doctor check your oral health. Detecting the disease early will help achieve more effective treatment. Some warning signs of dental problems include ulcers, red or white patches, and any long-term changes that occur in a senior's mouth.
When you want to perform dental care for the elderly, have regular dental check-ups, treat dental diseases promptly or restore lost teeth, please contact Nhan Tam Dental Clinic immediately to get help. Receive the fastest support from dental centers.