Most Americans do not want to think about getting older, but in many cultures, it is celebrated as a path to wisdom! No matter how you feel personally about getting older, it is inevitable. You cannot stop time, but you can make sure your body is in the best shape possible to keep yourself healthy no matter your age.
Why Should I Worry About Keeping My Teeth and Gums Healthy?
Both the American Dental Association and the American Medical Association have found relationships between the health of your teeth and gums and the health of your body. If you have an infected tooth or you have gum disease, that inflammation can travel from your mouth to the rest of your body. Scientists have found relationships between infections in your mouth and heart disease, including infections in your heart and heart valves.
Inflammation in your teeth and gums can also worsen the effects of both diabetes and dementia. In fact, gum disease can make it challenging to control your blood sugar if you suffer from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
Caring for Your Teeth As You Approach Your Midlife and Senior Years
In the past, due to poor dental hygiene, most adults lost their teeth by midlife and had to wear dentures. Now, thanks to better dental hygiene and better diets with vitamins and minerals, many adults keep their teeth well past middle age and throughout their senior years.
Caring for your teeth as you get older is relatively the same as caring for your teeth as an adult. However, if you have a chronic illness, such as high blood pressure, that requires medication, you will want to make sure you drink plenty of water. As you age, your body produces less saliva, which means bacteria that cause gum disease and tooth decay.
You will also want to make sure you visit our dentist every six months. That way, we can keep track of any dental issues you are having.
Dental Blog | Dentist Menasha, WI | Mid Valley Dental, S.C. Michael J. Wockenfus, DDS created a blog to educate the community. It is your resource for all dentistry questions. Learn and read topics in the blog here! Mid Valley Dental, SC, 903 E. Airport Road, Menasha, WI 54952; (920) 215-4160; midvalleydental.com; 12/7/2024; Associated Words: dentist Menasha WI;