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Dental Care for Old People - Prevention is Always Better than Care |
Dental care is not limited to that of teeth. It extends to the care of gums and covers care of the complete mouth. Old people need to be more cautious about the care of their mouth as compared to young people. This is due to the fact that in old people anabolic processes have already slowed down. Anabolic processes reach a plateau at a certain age in humans and then start declining, whereas katabolic processes speed up thereafter.
With the upkeep of their mouth, old people can also protect their teeth and make them last for years together. In this, young people need to take good care of the elders in the family by providing them all necessary support.
Most dental care aspects applicable to young people are also applicable to old people. However, there are certain aspects of dental care that require special attention due to old age.
As a person starts becomes old, his/her gums gradually begin to shrink. This causes more sensitivity in the newly exposed portion of their teeth. In such cases, a dentist will generally prescribe a mouthwash to neutralize the sensitivity. He/she will also provide guidance towards better brushing techniques to keep control over gum issues.
Some old people may have issues with their hands or arms or if their eyesight is not 6/6. In such cases the dentist will also help and provide the necessary advice to deal with these issues. A good light and a magnifying mirror can sometimes help in such cases.
Some old people may need to take medication for some issues, due to which they may suffer from a dry mouth. Less saliva may then become a dental care issue in such cases. So, such people should not ignore it, but immediately contact their dentist. He/she will then provide requisite advice. They can even get certain over the counter special products that include artificial saliva at the nearest chemist shop.
Adequate protection of teeth can be ensured through use of fluoride toothpaste. It helps protect teeth from tooth decay.
Drinking adequate quantity of water is also recommended. Without this, food may decay in the digestive system and cause tooth decay and gum disease, although brushing regimen may have been followed.
In case an old person’s teeth have decayed beyond redemption, they need to be removed and replaced with dentures. Adapting to dentures may be at first difficult for an old person. But with unrelenting practice and willpower, dentures can be used to serve as at least adequate functional replacements for original teeth.
In old age, a regular dental checkup becomes necessary. Cancers of the mouth can be prevented and life of a person’s teeth can be extended by avoiding cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol, and snuff.
It is possible for people to have healthy teeth even in old age. For this, proper precautions, care, and recommendations need to be followed at all times right from childhood till death. Unfortunately, most people prove casual and negligent in this and pay the penalty. |