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10 | October 10, 2019 | 22nd century media active aging<br />
22ndCenturyMedia.com<br />
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5 tips to improve your oral health<br />
Just like that ache in your lower back<br />
when you get off the couch or that strain<br />
in your shoulder when you lift the grocery<br />
bags, your teeth and gums can present<br />
problems that may not have been there<br />
when you were younger.<br />
With advances in medicine, we live longer<br />
and keep our teeth longer. This presents<br />
a unique set of challenges for patients<br />
and their dentists. Below are some issues<br />
that you may face and recommended oral<br />
care tips to help you maintain a healthy<br />
mouth and smile.<br />
1. Dry Mouth<br />
Dry mouth, or xerostomia, is a common<br />
problem I see in patients.<br />
As we age, we frequently take multiple<br />
medications to treat various health<br />
problems. Decreased saliva flow can be<br />
a side effect of more than 500 different<br />
medications. Dry mouth can be managed<br />
with over-the-counter sprays and mouthwashes,<br />
plentiful water consumption,<br />
sugar-free gum/lozenges, and potentially<br />
modifying dosages or drugs that may<br />
contribute to the decrease in saliva.<br />
2. Cavities<br />
Saliva plays an important role in protecting<br />
our teeth and preventing decay,<br />
which puts older patients with dry mouth<br />
at an increased risk for developing cavities.<br />
The decay process can be managed<br />
and sometimes reversed through a process<br />
called “remineralization therapy.”<br />
This treatment uses products containing<br />
fluoride to help put minerals back into<br />
weakened enamel. With this and newer<br />
less invasive treatments, we are often able<br />
to provide a conservative alternative to<br />
extensive and costly dental procedures.<br />
3. Poor Breath<br />
Bad breath, or halitosis, is a common<br />
dental problem in patients of all ages. Primarily<br />
caused by bacteria in the mouth<br />
and on our tongues, we frequently work<br />
with patients to find a simple, at-home<br />
solution to this bothersome problem.<br />
bones<br />
From Page 8<br />
kidney stones and gastrointestinal<br />
issues. Does<br />
this mean eliminate calcium<br />
completely? Not at<br />
all. Calcium is important,<br />
it’s just not a magic pill<br />
for building bone density.<br />
5. You can’t improve bone<br />
density once it’s lost<br />
False. You can strengthen<br />
your skeletal system<br />
and increase bone density.<br />
The first line of defense is<br />
exercise. While swimming<br />
is excellent for your heart<br />
and lungs, weight-bearing<br />
and resistance exercise is<br />
A tongue scraper is a great tool that<br />
can be used to remove bacteria from our<br />
tongue. Additionally, adding an alcoholfree<br />
and fluoride-containing mouth rinse<br />
to your daily regimen can help keep your<br />
breath odor-free.<br />
4. Preventative Care<br />
We consistently recommend regular<br />
preventative care to our patients. It<br />
is better and easier to treat problems<br />
while they are small, before they become<br />
painful to both your wallet and mouth.<br />
We see many of our older patients more<br />
frequently in order to monitor the health<br />
of their teeth and gums as well as detect<br />
early breakdown of existing dental restorations.<br />
Many patients with a history<br />
of periodontal disease or gum problems<br />
should ideally be seen every three to four<br />
months for their preventative hygiene<br />
appointments.<br />
5. Dental Implants<br />
Our primary goal is to help our patients<br />
achieve a lifetime of comfort and function<br />
with their natural teeth.<br />
Unfortunately, teeth sometimes need to<br />
be removed due to fracture or decay. In<br />
this case, our doctors can customize your<br />
treatment to replace teeth with naturallooking<br />
and functioning dental implants.<br />
Whether you have one or multiple missing<br />
teeth, or a loose or ill-fitting denture,<br />
dental implants can be an excellent treatment<br />
to help restore your smile. The key<br />
to treating dental problems you may experience<br />
is to be proactive and find a dental<br />
practice that tailors treatment for you to<br />
address your short-term concerns and the<br />
long-term health of your natural teeth.<br />
Maintaining your oral health makes it<br />
easier to eat the food you enjoy while being<br />
able to converse and smile without<br />
being self-conscious.<br />
Submitted by Smilin Dental. For more information,<br />
call (847) 446-5868 or visit smilindental.com.<br />
the key to strengthening<br />
your bones.<br />
Submitted by Osteostrong<br />
Wilmette. For more information,<br />
call (224) 408-2369,<br />
email wilmette@osteostrong.<br />
me or visit www.centers.<br />
osteostrong.me/illinoiswilmette.
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