You work hard all your life and finally reach those golden retirement years … it would certainly be nice to arrive with all your biological teeth intact. Striving to maintain healthy teeth and gums is important for people of all ages, but once you have reached retirement, maintaining your oral health is just as important as it can impact your overall health … making time to visit your dental office continues to be a necessary step.
Follow These Habits to Keep Teeth and Gums Healthy
In retirement, your daily schedule may feel like it has changed. The need to hurry may be replaced with more time on your hands. Rushing off to work may be replaced with more recreational fun or just taking time to relax. But don’t get complacent with your daily oral hygiene regimen that should include brushing two minutes twice every day with a fluoridated toothpaste and flossing daily to remove what your toothbrush missed.
Watch what you eat. Meal structure may change; your primary daily diet should be comprised of healthy grains, protein, dairy, vegetables, and fruit. Make sure you stay hydrated drinking water throughout the day.
Schedule regular visits with your dental office to have teeth cleaned; an oral exam is important as you age to ensure your dental health.
Importance of Regular Dental Visits
Your disposable income may be diminished somewhat in retirement. But skimping on your dental health is not an area where you should consider cutting back.
Waiting to see the dentist until you are experiencing a problem may result in needing treatment that may cost more than if you had caught a potential issue early and dealt with it.
If tooth loss should occur, a solution should be sought. Facing life with one or more missing teeth can impact your ability to eat a healthy diet as well as damage your self esteem. Work with your dentist to find the best way to resolve tooth loss.
As years go by, dental problems such as worn dentition, dental decay, gum disease, or missing teeth may feel overwhelming. It is important to remember that seeing your dentist regularly to maintain your oral health can make a huge difference for your overall health as well as helping you and your teeth to age gracefully.
If it’s time to schedule your next exam and cleaning, contact our team at Bliss Dental today.