CARE FOR THE ELDERLY  ADVICE HOME

You are never too old to have good teeth. There is no set rule stating that as you get older your teeth and gums have to deteriorate. But like a vintage car that performs well maintenance is the key. With proper home care and regular exams and cleanings you can keep your teeth and gums healthy and in doing so help to maintain your overall health. There are many studies now relating tooth loss and gum disease to cardiovascular disease. A full set of teeth allows you to properly chew and digest your food. Also regular dental visits find problems when they are small to keep your dental costs to a minimum.

We will check for head and neck cancer, the health of the supporting gums, soft tissues and bone, if any decay is present, the condition of any bridges, implants, crowns bridges or dentures and loose teeth.

Patients with dentures should clean their denture, underlying gums and teeth after every meal. Always remove your denture every night to give the underlying tissues a rest. If you are having a problem gripping a brush or floss think of an electric toothbrush and or flosser or a plastic floss holder. Brush and floss bridges and implants as natural teeth.. Use a floss threader on bridges.

If you do not replace a missing tooth the remaining teeth can misalign, leading to poor chewing, poor oral hygiene, tooth loss and jaw problems. A tooth can be replaced with an implant, bridge or denture.

Here are some problem you should see your dentist for:

• Persistent bad breath even with regular brushing and flossing.
• Persistent dry mouth due to menopause, new medications, radiation therapy, medical condition, etc.
• Persistent bleeding of the gums while brushing or flossing.
• Loose teeth.
• Sore mouth due to an ill fitting denture.
• Unexplained bleeding, sores which have not healed in 14 days, white or red patches on the gum, numbness or pain
• Sudden or ongoing pain in your teeth.