Professional Dental Care
Young or old, we all benefit from professional dental care. If we look after our teeth and gums, they can remain healthy and look good into our twilight years. But as we get older, there may be a few changes in our dental care routine. To get advice on how to look after your teeth, or if you’re a caregiver helping someone else, Erbsville Dental can provide some excellent advice.
Dr. Mathews (Erbsville Dental) believes that it’s possible to have healthy teeth and gums at any age. You will never get too old to visit your dentist. Your dentist wants to help you maintain healthy teeth and gums throughout your life. We can get professional dental care into our twilight years, but what are some things that might change?
Denture Care
When a tooth is lost, it is important to replace it because your other teeth can move out of place and become misaligned. Your dentist can replace them with artificial or “false” teeth. Your false teeth will need to be cared for just as well as your natural teeth. There are different ways to maintain your dentures depending on the type you have.
A fixed bridge (fixed partial denture) and implant retained dentures are fixed in place. You won’t be able to remove them without the help of your dentist. These need to be cleaned in your mouth the same way you would clean natural teeth except implants are not as strong as natural teeth. Therefore, brush them with extra care, and be gentle. Flossing, as well as cleaning all sides of the implant is important. Be gentle with floss where the implant meets the gums.
Partial and complete dentures are removable and require extra attention. In addition to cleaning your available teeth and gums with a soft toothbrush, you also need to soak your removable dentures overnight. There are special cleaning solutions designed for this purpose. After soaking you still need to brush and clean them as soaking only loosens plaque and tartar.
Gum Disease
Gum disease is more of a threat as we age. Be extra vigilant once you have false teeth of any kind. Gum disease can be a problem as even a small amount of swelling can make your dentures fit improperly and or cause discomfort.
Help With Dentures
Erbsville Dental can help with dentures. “We operate a large in-house lab to meet denture needs. Usually soft liners, relines, additions, and repairs can be completed the same day.” – Dr. Mathews. Make sure to visit Erbsville Dental regularly for professional cleaning and dental exams just as before. Identifying issues early and assigning proper treatment is important if you have implants or dentures as well.
If you are a caregiver and helping someone elderly to keep their teeth clean and healthy, follow our next blog with Suggestions and help for Caregivers.
This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Accordingly, always seek the advice of your Dentist or other healthcare providers regarding a dental condition or treatment.
