As you age, your teeth will be impacted, both positively and negatively, by your oral health habits. Although there are some aspects of ageing we can’t control, good dental hygiene can help you maintain a healthy smile for life. Read on to learn about how ageing can affect your oral health. We also suggest tips to combat its negative effects!
How Aging Affects Dental Health
Over time, the protective outer layer of our teeth, called the enamel, weakens and thins through everyday wear and tear. This makes teeth more vulnerable to decay. Moreover, the weakening process can be accelerated by the cumulative effects of any chronic teeth grinding, tobacco use, poor oral hygiene, and excessive consumption of acidic foods and beverages. Older adults may also be more prone to bone loss and gum disease that can lead to tooth loss. Another common complication with ageing and teeth is that some medications needed for other ailments may negatively impact mouth health. Dry mouth, for example, is one side effect of many prescription medications. Loss of taste may also be a factor.
Tips to Keep Teeth Healthy for Life
The key elements of proper dental hygiene and good oral health habits stay the same throughout our lifetime:
- Always brush your teeth twice daily, for two minutes each time.
- Floss at least once every day.
- Eat a diet high in fresh vegetables and good sources of protein, and low in sugar and refined carbohydrates.
- Drink plenty of water, especially if you must take prescription medications that lead to dry mouth.
- Don’t smoke or use tobacco products. They cause yellowing of teeth and bad breath and increase your risk of oral cancer.
- Keep up with your biannual dental appointments so we can check for problems and treat them before they get worse.
How Kiwi Dental Can Help Maintain Your Smile
Here at our Oakville dental office, we provide preventive measures to help keep your teeth healthy and strong. For example, custom-fitted nightguards are available to protect your teeth from chronic clenching and grinding, and fluoride treatments and sealants can help prevent decay and cavities. But even if you feel like the effects of ageing have already taken a heavy toll on your smile, it’s possible that your most glowing smile is yet to come! Because of modern dental technology, there are solutions to all manner of dental problems, especially those caused by ageing. Professional teeth whitening can brighten up a stained and yellow smile, and veneers can hide teeth that are discoloured, misshapen, and chipped. Dentures, dental implants, bridges, crowns, and gum grafts can give you a strong, beautiful smile that feels like new. Whatever the problem, we have a solution.
Achieve & Maintain a Healthy Smile with Kiwi Dental!
Don’t fear to age; with a capable dentist such as Dr. Somayeh Nourian at your side, you have years of a glowing grin ahead of you. Contact us today if you have any questions about ageing and your teeth, or if you’d like to set up a consultation to discuss our preventive, restorative, or cosmetic treatments.