As many of us know, oral health is one indicator of overall health. Bad oral health could point to more serious ailments such as diabetes and heart disease while tooth loss could be an indicator for osteoporosis or Alzheimer’s disease. This is why it’s important to keep track of any changes in oral health and to set up a maintainable cleaning schedule that aging adults or their caregivers can do at home. Excellent oral hygiene and frequent dental checkups are essential to maintaining oral health. There are no short cuts to perfect dental health, but the basics are easy to follow. Obeying these rules may take fifteen minutes out of your day, but ignoring them could result in a future filled with painful, tedious and expensive corrective procedures. To keep your teeth and gums in a clean and healthy state while avoiding plaque build-up, reducing stains, and preventing the advancement of gum disease, include the following measures into your daily personal care routine:
- Switch to an electric toothbrush with an automatic timer.
- Gently brush teeth after every meal.
- Following your last snack of the day: first brush teeth, then floss, next go around each tooth with a rubber-tipped gum massager and finally, thread a soft-bristled “proxy” brush between each tooth to remove every last bit of debris.
- Follow up your evening ritual by rinsing with a standard mouthwash or a medicated mouthwash, whichever your dental hygienist recommends.