The Link Between Dental Hygiene And Healthy Aging
About 56.3% of seniors in Canada deem dental visits unnecessary. This is why poor oral hygiene and secondary diseases are common among such individuals.
While you may believe dental care Canada to be unnecessary, it plays a critical role in healthy aging. People with bad oral health are likely to suffer from various dental diseases that can impact their quality of life.
Below, we discuss the link between dental hygiene and healthy aging to help you understand the importance of the former.
The Impact Of Aging On Oral Health
As you age, your overall dental health decreases. This is because of bone loss in teeth and the increased risk of health disorders such as diabetes or cardiac problems.
Without proper dental hygiene, the impact of aging is more severe on your teeth. You may suffer from early-onset edentulism (toothlessness). Your diet may also increase the risk of dental caries or tooth chipping due to decay.
This is why one must take care of their oral health more seriously as they age. Forgetting to brush your teeth twice a day may seem unimportant to you, but it will cost you in the long run when you start to experience dental pain and other symptoms of poor oral health.
Why Is Dental Hygiene Important For Healthy Aging?
Dental hygiene and healthy aging have a direct connection. If you maintain the former, you can enjoy a better life as a senior. Here are the reasons why dental hygiene is important for healthy aging:
1. Decreases The Risk Of Health Risks
Older adults are at a high risk of suffering from periodontitis (gum disease). This is a disorder in which your gums experience inflammation, which leads to pain and discomfort.
The biggest disadvantage of gum disease is that it increases the risk of various diseases as you age, such as:
Cardiovascular disease
Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
Respiratory disease
Visiting a dentist in Bridgeport for a checkup every three months can help you identify periodontitis early. It can also help the professional identify initial risk factors of gum disease to prevent you from suffering from an infection.
The best thing is that taking care of your dental hygiene will help you reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular or other diseases.
2. Prevents Early-Age Tooth Loss
About 11% of seniors aged 60 or above in Canada suffer from toothlessness. The risk of tooth loss increases as you age, but it is the highest when you have a history of poor dental hygiene.
Those who don’t brush or floss often experience tooth loss more often in older age than those who do. By taking care of your dental hygiene as a young adult, you can prepare yourself for a safer future.
The best thing is that tooth loss is a preventable oral health disease. Effective measures such as brushing your teeth twice a day, visiting your dentist in Bridgeport every three months, and flossing after food can save you from early-age tooth loss.
3. Improves Quality Of Life
Dental hygiene not only has an effect on healthy aging, but also on your quality of life. The risk of dental diseases is low, but still there even if you maintain perfect oral health because of the gradual impact of aging.
However, good dental hygiene can help you avoid severe symptoms such as chronic pain. You may experience less discomfort and inflammation if you maintain your oral health with aging.
The impact of these symptoms may not be significant enough to impact your quality of life. With adequate dental treatment or advice, you can also enhance your life.
Dental Hygiene And Healthy Aging: Challenges Faced By Canadian Patients
Telling a patient to maintain dental hygiene for healthy aging is easier said than done. Canadians experience various barriers to dental care, such as:
Lack of federal insurance packages (currently, the Canadian Dental Care Program is the only federal plan)
Increase the cost of dental care Canada without insurance
Operational challenges and staff shortage leading to appointment delays
When an appointment is delayed due to a backlog of dental patients, your treatment may receive less priority. Your oral health may also worsen while you wait for your turn.
All these challenges prevent people from maintaining dental hygiene to the best of their abilities. Of course, one thing you can do to prevent health risks due to poor oral health compliance is visit a private dentist in Bridgeport, such as KWC Dental.
The private sector allows you to skip waiting lines and get immediate dental treatment for proper recovery.
FAQs
What Is Dental Aging?
Dental aging is the natural process of your teeth maturing with time. It also includes the changes that happen to a person’s teeth as they age or follow an unhealthy diet.
How Does Aging Affect Dental Health?
Aging degrades dental health by causing bones to lose their regular density, making the mouth dry, and increasing the risk of tooth decay, periodontitis, and tooth sensitivity to medicines being taken by the adult.
Is Dental Hygiene Important For Achieving A Healthy Lifestyle?
Dental hygiene is essential for a healthy lifestyle because it prevents body infections, ensures your quality of life is not affected by pain or discomfort, and helps you focus on your daily tasks.
What Is Oral Hygiene And Its Importance To The Elderly?
Oral hygiene refers to the dental cleanliness of a patient. The less you take care of oral hygiene, the poorer your teeth's health becomes. Seniors must maintain good dental hygiene because they are at high risk of suffering from tooth infections and secondary complications.
How To Keep Your Teeth Healthy As You Age?
You can keep your teeth healthy by brushing them twice with a toothpaste containing fluoride. Avoid rinsing your mouth with water after brushing your teeth because it washes away the fluoride too. Also, visit your dentist regularly for routine checkups and professional dental cleanings.
Dental Hygiene And Healthy Aging: Enhance Your Quality Of Life With KWC Dental
The link between dental hygiene and healthy aging is very strong. Keeping your teeth in good shape will prevent various dental diseases and allow you to avoid health risks such as cardiovascular disease.
If it’s been a long time since your last dental appointment, contact KWC Dental today. Our experts will offer you a comprehensive oral checkup and dental cleaning to enhance your teeth hygiene.