Many people assume that gum disease and tooth loss are inevitable as they age. But what if we told you that you have the power to protect your oral health as you age? What if we told you that you’re not destined for dentures? Our dentist in Shelby Township, MI, can help you maintain a healthy, attractive smile for life.
Here’s how to get started.
Brush and Floss Every Day
It’s important that you brush your teeth twice a day and floss once daily. Doing this will help remove plaque.
Plaque is an invisible film of bacteria that lives inside your mouth. As it consumes sugar, it produces an acid that erodes your tooth enamel and attacks your gums.
Even if you wear dentures, it’s important that you continue brushing your gums and any remaining teeth. That way, you’ll help prevent plaque from building up inside your mouth and causing problems.
Don’t Skip Your Teeth Cleaning Visits
In general, we recommend that our patients get a routine teeth cleaning at least every six months. This allows us to remove plaque and tartar buildup and detect small issues before they have the opportunity to worsen. Your teeth cleaning visits are also a great time to ask Dr. Nazarian any questions you may have about your oral health.
Manage Dry Mouth
It’s not uncommon for older adults to experience dry mouth due to certain medications. While it may seem weird to think about, saliva helps wash away bacteria and food particles. With less saliva, you may be more vulnerable to oral health issues. This is why it’s important to make sure you’re drinking enough water.
If you experience dry mouth, let our dentist know during your next appointment. He’ll be able to recommend products to help you manage dry mouth. Taking care of oral health issues as they arise will help you maintain a strong, healthy smile.
Take Good Care of Your Gums
While this blog post is about how to keep your teeth strong, it’s important to understand that your teeth are part of an interconnected system. In this sense, taking care of your gums will also help you maintain healthy teeth.
Schedule an appointment with us if you have bleeding, sore, or swollen gums. The sooner we detect gum disease, the sooner we can help you restore your oral health.
While gingivitis (gum inflammation) is reversible, we can’t say the same about periodontitis. Periodontitis is a serious gum infection. We can manage the symptoms of periodontitis through scaling and root planing, but we can’t reverse the condition.
The best way to take care of your gums is to brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day. This will help keep down the amount of plaque in your mouth, which will help cure gum disease and prevent it from returning.
According to the , about 64.7 million Americans have periodontal disease! The good news is that this condition is preventable as long as you practice good oral hygiene.
Having healthy gums will help support and hold your teeth in place so you’re less prone to losing your teeth as you age. If you wear dentures, having healthy gums will also help support your oral appliance so you can eat and talk with ease.
Learn More:3 Ways to Replace Missing Teeth →
Quit Smoking
Did you know that smoking suppresses your immune system? It also suppresses your body’s natural ability to heal itself. This makes it harder for your body to fight bacteria that can lead to gum disease and tooth decay.
If you smoke, you also have a higher risk of getting oral and/or throat cancer. The estimates that over 53,000 Americans will get oral and/or throat cancer this year. Fortunately, we offer oral cancer screenings to detect this condition early. An oral cancer screening could save your life!
Replace Missing Teeth
Have you experienced tooth loss? If so, we recommend scheduling an appointment with our dental implant dentist in Shelby Township, MI. Dr. Ara Nazarian has years of experience replacing missing teeth with dental implants.
Here’s what one of our patients had to say about her experience getting dental implants at the Premier Dental Center.
“This was absolutely a life-changing experience. I definitely feel better. Confident.”
— Julie J.
Compared to other tooth replacement options, dental implants are the most long-lasting. They also help prevent bone loss in the jaw and hold the adjacent teeth in place so they don’t start to drift. All of these factors help reduce your risk of further tooth loss. That way, you can continue to smile with confidence for years to come.
Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Nazarian
Dr. Ara Nazarian is a skilled and experienced dentist in Shelby Township, MI. He’s also accepting new patients and would be more than happy to welcome you to our practice. To schedule an appointment, please call the Premier Dental Center at (248) 457-0500. You may also fill out our online contact form and someone from our team will reach out to you soon.
This blog post has been updated.