As time goes on, most people begin to experience dental problems, including lost or shifting teeth, gum issues, and an uneven bite. However, a few basic lifestyle adjustments can help to maintain effective dental health and prevent having to resort to dentures as time goes on.

Eat Healthy 

Fresh, preferably organic fruits and vegetables play an important nutritional role in any diet. Three to five servings daily are essential to keep teeth healthy, along with the rest of the body. Crunchy fruits like apples and vegetables such as carrots naturally help to clean the teeth and provide valuable vitamins and minerals that support dental health. Drinking plenty of water is also a good idea, along with avoiding acidic and sugary foods that contribute to tooth decay. If you are unable to brush after every meal, rinsing your mouth with clear water and spitting it out helps to remove damage-causing surface residue.

Practice Daily Hygiene

Everyone should brush their teeth after eating, or at least twice a day, morning and night, to remove food particles. Residual debris settles into the tooth enamel and burrows into gum tissue to cause infection, which leads to tooth decay and eventual loss if left untreated, along with inflamed gums, which cause gingivitis and periodontal disease. Flossing helps to remove hard-to-reach residue from between each tooth and below the gum line, thus preventing irritation and inflammation. An oral mouthwash offers added protection with antibacterial ingredients that kill oral bacteria. Some mouthwash products include fluoride, which is sometimes missing in an untreated water supply. Dentists recommend rinsing with fluoride to help protect against decay.

Take Your Medications as Directed

With the onset of age often comes memory trouble, making it difficult for seniors to remember which medications they need to take, how many, and when. For similar reasons they are also at risk of either unintentionally or intentionally abusing prescription medications. This isn't so bad when it's just a vitamin C supplement, but it's dangerous when it's an opioid like Percocet or a benzodiazepine like Xanax. Abusing prescription drugs can seriously harm even a young and healthy body, and it can have even more severe consequences for an aged body. In the context of today's discussion, prescription drugs when abused can cause irreversible harm to teeth and gums through dry mouth, acid reflux, tooth grinding, reduced blood flow to the gums, and lapses in consciousness that prevent regular oral hygiene.

Consult a Dentist

The ideal dental checkup includes seeing a dentist twice a year for exams and professional cleaning. This helps to identify any problems early so they can be promptly treated before they turn into bigger issues. Also, the dentist can often recommend specific hygiene practices or dental products suited to each patient's needs. Cavities can be filled before they cause a tooth to become loose and fall out, or require extraction. Dentists can also provide hygiene kits with a toothbrush and sample oral health products.

Don't wait until you’re already losing teeth before addressing oral care issues. Start now by developing a consistent care plan that begins at home each day and continues at the dentist's office every six months. And, if it comes to it, be glad you have comprehensive dental insurance!

References
https://greatist.com/health/healthy-teeth-foods
http://www.clementdental.com
https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/f/fluoride
​https://murfreesborofamilydentistry.com/preventive-care/
​https://prevailintervention.com/long-does-xanax-stay-in/

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