Teeth Don’t Weaken on Their Own

Your teeth are incredibly strong little things—they aren’t meant to weaken as we age, but they can if we don’t take good care of them. What these means is that if you grind your teeth, chew on inedible objects such as ice or pencils, and have a poor diet lacking in nutrients or high in refined sugar, your teeth can eventually get worn down and weaken.

Grinding as well as chewing on inedible objects can cause unnecessary wear and could even cause you to fracture your teeth or lead to overly sensitive teeth as a result of damaged enamel. Your enamel—the hard protective shiny layer over your teeth—is vitally important. Loss of enamel is irreversible and can cause extremely sensitive teeth, root damage, and even loss of teeth.

Keep Bacteria at Bay

You have both good and bad bacteria in your mouth, and the bad bacteria is what causes plaque to form and eventually build up if you don’t brush regularly or have poor brushing habits. There are many things that can upset the balance of good and bad bacteria, such as dry mouth, eating too many sweets, and not brushing or flossing. When the bad bacteria take over, problems arise.

This is usually when dentists see gingivitis, or, the beginning stages of periodontal disease. This disease causes bad bacteria to take over your mouth and severely impact your teeth and their roots. Signs of gum disease include bleeding gums, chronic bad breath, or even loose teeth. Bacteria causes infections, which is why it’s important to keep your teeth clean and brush a minimum of once a day.

Stay Hydrated

One of the biggest things that can affect our oral health as we age is dry mouth. Did you know that as you age, you’re more likely to be dehydrated? This is because you may not feel as thirsty and your body doesn’t conserve water like it used to. In other words, you don’t realize that you’re dehydrated because you may not feel thirsty.

Older adults are also more likely to be on different medications—and many medications can cause dry mouth. Saliva protects your teeth, and when it’s absent, this leaves room for the bad bacteria to take over and cause problems like gum disease and tooth decay. Which is not something you want to be dealing with during your retirement years!

Your dentist can help you take the best care of your teeth as you age. By eating healthy, brushing, not smoking, flossing, and addressing dry mouth, you can ensure your teeth stay healthy for life. Also remember that teeth grinding and chewing on non-food items is more damaging to your teeth than you think!

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Learning Proper Dental Care

One of the main things a dentist will try to do with a young patient is instill a sense of the necessity for dental care. This isn’t done through scare tactics, but rather through building appreciation for good oral health, and by attempting to make dental care fun.

To that end, the hygienist will likely use a flavored toothpaste for a child, rather than the usual mint toothpaste. You can keep the fun going at home by getting toothpaste flavors that your child enjoys. You can also purchase a fun toothbrush. This will also encourage your child to brush.

As you can see, reinforcing what the dentist says will be vital. After all, you are with your child every day. The dentist only sees your child twice a year.

How to Brush and Floss

Often, it is the hygienist that actually clean your child’s teeth, and either the hygienist or the dentist will discuss the proper way to brush and floss. While children are more likely to imitate a parent, the dentist is usually seen as an authority figure, and we find that many children are more likely to absorb the information being told to them. In fact, according to a study released by the NIH, 90% of children feel more comfortable when their dentist is wearing a white coat. Perhaps this helps the child to associate the dentist with being a professional.

Learning Proper Nutrition for Oral Health

Your dentist will also likely address nutrition with a child. While a child may not want to hear that candy and soda are bad for their teeth, this is an important part of making sure that cavities don’t form. Of course, children often struggle with moderation. Again, it will be up to the parent to teach a child that one piece of candy now and then is okay, but eating an entire bag on a regular basis is a sure way to be back in the dental chair quickly! A healthy diet is key to maintaining excellent dental health, and a dentist is a great authority figure to share the proper “do’s” and “dont’s” of healthy eating habits.

In summary, your dentist will try to teach your child the foundations of good oral health. However, it will be up to you as a parent to help children develop proper oral care habits and reinforce the information they learn when visiting the dentist! With an excellent dentist in your corner, your child will have all of the knowledge necessary to keep a healthy, happy smile for a lifetime.

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