A Parent’s Guide to Emergency Dental Care

Posted on: 28 September 2016

The aging process can cause substantial changes to your body. However, it is a reality that many individuals will fail to appreciate the way that the aging process impacts their dental-health needs. To help you care for your smile as you age, you will want to keep the following basic but essential dental-care tips in mind.

Prevent Dry Mouth

Dry mouth can be a fairly unpleasant problem for you to develop. However, it can be common for individuals to assume that this problem is little more than a source of discomfort. Yet, it should be noted that this issue can cause the bacteria in your mouth to grow more rapidly, which can contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. Sadly, this can be a common problem for older individuals, as they may be more likely to be on medications that can cause this condition as a side effect.

To prevent these issues, you will want to consider keeping a bottle of water with you or chewing sugar-free gum. By stimulating the production of saliva, you can help to protect your teeth against this particular source of problems.

Understand the Benefits of Dental Implants

As you age, it is likely that one or more of your teeth will eventually need to be removed. Unfortunately, there are some individuals that may not seriously consider replacing their missing teeth. However, if you are missing a tooth, the jaw bone may start to erode due to a lack of support. As the jaw bone erodes, the remaining teeth may start to loosen or fall out. By installing a dental implant, you can minimize this risk by ensuring that the jaw is properly supported.

Appreciate the Dangers of Gum Disease

There are few dental problems that are more common than gum disease. Patients will often neglect the threats that can be posed by gum disease. This condition can cause the gums to recede, and that can contribute to teeth falling out. Additionally, this condition can lead to the formation of cysts, abscesses, and a host of other problems. By making sure to regularly floss, use mouthwash, and undergo regular dental visits, you will find that you are less likely to suffer from this problem in the future.

Your dental-health needs will change as you progress through the aging process. For those that are wanting to make sure they are prepared for these changing needs, it is important to understand the need to combat dry mouth, the benefits of dental implants, and the threats that gum disease may pose to your dental health.