How to look after your teeth once you've turned 50

1. How to look after your teeth once you've turned 50 Throughout your life, it is always important to take care of your dental health. It may be common to lose our teeth as we age. However, it is a misconception to think that because it is common, it must be inevitable and there is nothing we can do about it. If you take care of your teeth and oral health properly, you do not need to lose your teeth. There is some additional care you can implement into your dental hygiene routine to prevent your teeth from falling out. Proper cleaning It is the starting point of a healthy mouth to properly clean your teeth and tongue. Brush twice a day and floss at least once a day, preferably at night. Tooth decay is one of the major causes of teeth loss in young or elderly people. It is caused by acids produced by bacteria or consuming acidic foods and drinks. The bacteria in your mouth feed on the food residues. If you do not brush your teeth after meals, the chance for bacteria to grow more rapidly increases. Removing the food residues will greatly affect the bacteria growth on your teeth and help prevent tooth decay. Regular check-ups Even when you are young and have a healthy set of teeth, dentists recommend that you get regular check-ups twice a year. Early signs of tooth decay, gum disease, or other problems can be recognized by your dentist and they propose treatments to prevent further damage. As we age, as well as our bodies, our mouths show some changes. Because the nerves become smaller, your teeth get less sensitive. It may be harder to notice that you have tooth decay or cavities in your teeth. That is why it is much more significant to go see your dentist regularly and get your teeth examined. Denture care It is common for mature people to be wearing partial or full dentures. Dentures are prosthetic teeth that replace natural teeth in cases where one has lost all or majority of your teeth. They are a great solution for people that cannot afford or do not qualify for implants. To prolong your dentures’ life and continue to wear them comfortably, you must pay great attention to their hygiene. Just like natural teeth, dentures must be cleaned after meals. Brush your denture at least once a day. Preferably, remove and rinse your dentures with water after every meal. When you remove them at night, keep them in a denture-soaking solution and never leave them dry.