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Dental Implants: A Guide for Seniors

If you are a senior considering dental implants, you may have to worry about issues other dental patients don't have to think about. For example, you may need more time to recover after receiving your implants. My name is Jodi, and I've been working with seniors for years. I decided to create this blog to help the seniors I can't meet in person. In this space, I'm going to post entries on everything related to dental implants and seniors. From tips on flossing implants after arthritis has claimed some of your dexterity, to guiding you through the implants-vs-dentures debate, this blog is designed for you. Thanks for reading. I hope you find what you need!

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Dental Implants: A Guide for Seniors

Mistakes You're Probably Making Between Dental Visits

by Jimmy Carter

Visiting the dentist regularly is one of the best things you can do to protect the health of your mouth and teeth and keep your own natural teeth for as long as possible, if not indefinitely. A dentist can give your teeth a thorough cleaning and also check for signs of oral cancer and other such diseases. While visiting your dentist is very important, how you care for your teeth and your mouth between those visits is also vital for your oral health. Note a few mistakes you might be making that risk the condition of your teeth and your gums between dental visits.

Using products with alcohol

You may notice that you get a very dry mouth after using certain mouthwashes, rinses or products for brushing that contain alcohol. This can be very damaging to your oral health, as saliva rinses away bacteria and food particles from the mouth and between teeth, which is needed to keep those contaminants from causing tooth decay. Avoid products with alcohol and choose those that clean your mouth naturally and without drying it.

Using an old toothbrush or not maintaining it

Imagine trying to clean your home with a scrub brush that is old, worn, soft, and with bristles that are bent out of shape or missing. This is what happens when you clean your teeth with an old toothbrush that is worn down. Those soft bristles that are bent and curved probably aren't getting between teeth like they should. 

That toothbrush may also be full of germs and bacteria if you're not maintaining the brush. It's good to run your toothbrush under very hot water at the end of each day, to kill germs and bacteria and get rid of food particles that may now be in the brush. Keep your toothbrush in good condition and replace it as needed for the health of your mouth and teeth.

Being rough with your teeth

You may need to really scrub the tile in your bathroom to get it clean or forcefully scrub mud off your car, but your teeth are not the same as tile or a car's exterior. Scrubbing them too hard can mean damaging the enamel and also causing irritation and small cuts on the gums. Your teeth need a good cleaning, but this should be a gentle cleaning, letting your toothbrush and toothpaste do the work. This will ensure you're not actually doing damage versus just cleaning your teeth.

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