Our team at Rhoades Family Dentistry strives to give all our patients of all ages the best dental care and dental treatments possible. We’re so passionate about caring for our patients that we developed company Core Values as a team to share with all our patients that we’re proud to serve them with every dental visit.

As our patient, you can expect us to be considerate of your time, keep you pain-free and healthy, ease your anxiety, offer the best dental care with clinically excellent knowledge and training, and earn your trust for a generation! Our entire philosophy of care can be found here.

Striving to keep patients for a generation is one of our greatest goals. It means we provide exceptional care that keeps you coming back for decades. Eventually, our patients who have been with us for decades need excellent dental care for older adults, specifically senior dental care. Keep reading to learn about caring for elderly dental health, including tips and considerations to make aging and elderly oral health an easier process!

Senior Dental Care – Tips & Considerations

Make oral hygiene a priority whether you’re a senior or care for one. A healthy mouth and a great oral hygiene routine can keep you healthier, a goal as we all age. Follow the tips below for elderly oral hygiene:

Get Routine Dental Exams

Perhaps the most important tip is to ensure you’re getting routine senior dental care. The American Dental Association recommends seniors visit their dental office twice annually for routine cleanings and exams. However, more cleanings and exams may be needed if you’re at risk of periodontal disease or have oral health conditions that require more frequent cleanings and exams.

Getting an oral health exam and a professional cleaning twice a year will result in cleaner teeth, preventative maintenance tips, and treatments if necessary. Though our team at Rhoades Family Dentistry believes you should get two exams a year, we’ll never over-treat our patients. We’ll never recommend something if it’s not completely necessary.

Properly Clean Dentures

If you’re among the 57% of seniors aged 65-74 who wear dentures, you’re not alone. Many seniors require dentures because of tooth loss as they age and use dentures as an alternative. Dentures are often made from acrylic resin, some requiring dental implants to hold them in place. Dentures are available as full or partial, depending on your specific needs.

Though dentures are relatively low maintenance, you should still properly clean them avoid oral health problems, and help them last longer. You still need dental exams twice yearly, but you can keep your dentures clean at home between visits. To properly clean dentures, soak them in a nonabrasive cleanser meant for dentures and brush them with a soft toothbrush. Be sure to remove any denture adhesive and get them clean of debris and food before reinserting them.

Brush & Floss Regularly

Like in their earlier years, seniors still need to brush and floss regularly to maintain good oral hygiene. Brush twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush, either manual or electric. Depending on the brand and toothbrush head, some electric toothbrushes can clean teeth better than manual toothbrushes, but we know they’re not for everyone. Be sure to use fluoride toothpaste every time you brush to get a deeper clean and to protect teeth from demineralization. You’ll also want to floss regularly, ideally every day to remove bacteria that cause bad breath and to remove plaque along the gumline.

Avoid Tobacco

You’ve heard it your whole life, but avoid tobacco use for healthier teeth and gums – crucial for elderly oral hygiene! Whether vaping or tobacco, smoking increases your chance of developing oral cancer and other oral health issues like tooth loss, and decayed roots. Tobacco isn’t just bad for your oral hygiene – it can also weaken your body’s immune system, something that can threaten all seniors’ health.

Keep Hydrated

There are countless benefits to drinking plenty of water: avoiding dehydration, aiding in digestion, regulating body temperature, cushioning joints, and keeping your mouth moist, resulting in better oral hygiene. How does staying hydrated help protect your oral health? It prevents dry mouth, something most seniors suffer from when taking medications. Dry mouth can result in more plaque, faster tooth decay, and a higher risk of gum disease.

Your appetite often decreases as you age, and your desire for thirst might also decrease. It’s important to keep hydrated not only for dental reasons but for your overall health. 

Eat Less Sugar

Consuming less sugar is better for your cardiovascular system, managing diabetes, and oral health. Diets high in sugar negatively impact oral health, speeding up tooth decay and resulting in more cavities and even periodontal disease. Therefore, eat less sugar to prevent oral health issues.

Instead of eating sweets like cookies, ice cream, and candies and drinking sodas, consume more water and swap sweets for fruits and snacks lower in carbohydrates and added sugars.

Consider Calcium Supplements

As we age, our bone density decreases and bone loss and tooth loss occur. According to the National Library of Medicine, adding a calcium supplement to your routine can help prevent osteoporosis and can help with tooth retention. Always check with your physician before adding supplements to your routine.

Replace Toothbrush/Brush Head Often

Brushing your teeth with a soft-bristle toothbrush, whether manual or electric, keeps teeth clean and helps prevent cavities and other oral health issues. However, you need to replace your toothbrush/brush head to reap the benefits of brushing. The more we brush our teeth, the more the bristles wear down. Worn-down bristles can damage gums and teeth, and increase the risk of infection.

According to the American Dental Association, replace your toothbrush/brush head every three months. Bristles become worn down after three months and bacteria start to build up. Mark your calendar to remember when to replace your toothbrush, or make a mental note to replace it each quarter.

Senior dental care is important to our team at Rhoades Family Dental. We want all our senior patients to receive exceptional geriatric dentistry, and provide excellent and caring dental care for older adults. We believe elderly oral hygiene should be carefully considered and maintained for a healthier life.

If you’re looking for dental care for older adults, look no further than Rhoades Family Dentistry! We offer the following services and treatments with exceptional care for our senior patients:

Book an appointment today by scrolling up and clicking “BOOK AN APPOINTMENT” on the top left of your screen! Our hygienists and dentists go above and beyond to keep your family safe and comfortable during visits, easing anxiety and offering kind and gentle care. We look forward to serving you by providing excellent senior dental care!