How do you prevent cavities and gum disease as you get older?

More and more people keep their teeth and molars well into old age. This is because, in recent decades, most people have taken better care of their teeth and visited the dentist more regularly. Oral care and the (semi-)annual visit to the dentist also remain important as you get older. Sometimes it is difficult to keep teeth healthy. The causes for this differ.

Due to old age or illness, attention to the teeth can fade into the background. Some people take good care of their teeth but develop different eating habits over the years (for example, a strong preference for sweets). In others, the composition and quantity of the saliva change. And for a number of people, they become less handy at cleaning their teeth as they get older. All of this affects oral health.

The right cleaning products

You can only prevent cavities by paying attention to your diet (avoid a few snacks and sticky products) and brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. If your hands become stiff, brushing your teeth becomes more difficult. An electric toothbrush can then be an easy tool.

Good maintenance

Gum problems can be prevented by brushing twice a day and cleaning the spaces between the teeth properly. Clean these thoroughly daily with toothpicks or brushes. In case of severe gum disease, visit a dental clinic near you, like Virginia dental clinic.

Dental floss

Dental floss is less suitable for this. That's because the spaces between the teeth often get bigger as you get older. Dental floss is only suitable for teeth that are close together.

Despite good oral care, some people suffer from a lot of tartar. The dentist or dental hygienist can remove tartar.