Dental Care in Your Middle Ages – 4 Tips for Preserving Your Smile as You Age

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As we approach middle age and beyond, it is common to notice various teeth problems. It is around this age that the daily dental wear and tear from prior years becomes apparent.

Suppose your dental hygiene routine has not been thorough enough during your lifetime. In that case, you might begin to experience issues such as tooth decay, sensitivity or pain and enamel erosion at this age. Additionally, receding gums and gum disease are common afflictions for people at the mid-point of their lives.

Some people also begin to lose confidence in their smiles as they grow older due to cosmetic issues. These can include staining of the teeth, translucent enamel, and even missing teeth if they have fallen out or need to be removed by a dentist.

Thankfully there is some good news. You and your dental health specialist have many tools available to maintain excellent dental hygiene and a stunning smile. Here are some tips for caring for your teeth in your middle ages.

The Basics Are Vital

Regardless of your age, the reality of maintaining your dental health is that you need a thorough cleaning regimen. This can help your teeth to shine and look nicer but is also essential for preserving them. Plaque build-up on your teeth can lead to cavities, tooth decay, and even tooth loss without adequate cleaning.

Plaque is a build-up of bacteria on your teeth that feed on the sugars and starches you eat. When these bacteria metabolize these sugars, they produce acid. This acid can then wear away at the enamel on the surface of your teeth and cause cavities. These can be painful and cause sensitivity. Often you will require fillings for cavities, but sometimes decay can worsen to the point that the tooth needs to be removed.

Thankfully, preventing these issues is relatively straightforward. Brushing your teeth twice a day (after waking up and before bed) with fluoride toothpaste can help to reduce the build-up of plaque. Additionally, flossing at least once per day can also remove food particles between your teeth and gums. Ultimately, this will reduce the chances of tooth decay and gum disease, helping to preserve your smile as you age.

Use the Right Toothbrush

The toothbrush that you choose is essential. In fact, in some cases, your toothbrush plays a more significant role in your overall dental hygiene than the toothpaste that you use. As a result, you should be using the best option available to you to promote the health of your teeth.

In many cases, the best choice is an electric model, but you should discuss your options with your dentist to find something that works for you. As a general rule, electric toothbrushes do a much better job cleaning sticky plaque off your teeth than their manual counterparts.

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They are also great for practising the correct brushing technique. Electric toothbrushes allow you to apply the correct pressure and often include timers to help you to brush for the right amount of time. Overall, an electric toothbrush is an excellent tool for reaching all areas of your mouth and preserving your smile as you age.

Visit the Dentist

On the whole, it is relatively common for people to stop having regular visits to the dentist after the end of their childhood. It’s understandable; visiting a dentist is rarely an inexpensive affair, especially if you require significant work. Additionally, as you grow into adulthood, the hecticness of life can often get in the way of your dental hygiene. For example, you might be working full time, or maybe you are preoccupied with visits to the dentist for your kids. Also, some middle-aged individuals might feel that their dental health situation is past saving.

However, regardless of the severity of your issues or how busy your life is, it is essential to go for regular check-ups with your dental healthcare provider. It will allow you and your dentist to take proactive steps when it comes to preserving your teeth. Ultimately, this can help you retain your natural teeth and win a smile well into your later years.

It is worthwhile finding a dentist that makes you feel comfortable, as this way you are more likely to visit them and look after your dental hygiene. If you are looking for a dentist in Brisbane, Pure Dentistry is an excellent option. Look at their services that can help you to care for your teeth in your middle ages here.

Cosmetic Procedures

Even if you take good care of your teeth and maintain their structure into your middle age, it is almost inevitable that they will deteriorate cosmetically during your lifetime. There are many reasons why this can be the case, but often, it can be caused by general wear and tear or erosion.

Additionally, drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes can contribute to stained teeth, which can cause confidence issues for many people. The darkening of the dentin layer beneath enamel can also contribute to the lack of lustre that many notice as they age. A dental hygienist can remove some level of surface staining when they scale and polish your teeth, but this might not remove it all, especially if it is severe.

However, various cosmetic procedures on the market can help you regain confidence in your smile. Many dentists offer teeth whitening services using hydrogen peroxide to remove deeper stains and discolouration. It can be excellent for once heavy smokers, as nicotine stains can be very stubborn.

Other solutions for heavy staining include dental veneers that cover your natural teeth’ surface to give you a brilliant smile. These are also brilliant for repairing cracked or chipped teeth.

As we age, it is also common for some of us to lose teeth. The standard solution to this was to make dentures or bridges for those missing teeth in the past. These can cause issues, however, as they can be uncomfortable and not feel natural.

Nowadays, dental implants are becoming a more widespread treatment for missing teeth. These permanent implants attach to the jawbone, meaning that they are secure in your mouth. Tungsten implants are fused with the bone to provide a platform on which a crown is placed. This crown can be fabricated to match your existing teeth, giving dental implants an exceptionally natural look and feel.

Conclusion

Overall, it can be challenging to maintain your teeth’ structural and cosmetic condition as you grow older. For many, poor dental hygiene can cause sensitivity and pain in their middle ages, and tooth decay or gum disease can even cause tooth loss. Therefore, you must take proper care of your teeth using a thorough cleaning routine. Brushing your teeth twice a day using an electric toothbrush and a fluoride toothpaste and following this up by flossing in between teeth is one of the best preventative measures you can take.

Additionally, it would help if you took care to schedule routine visits with a dentist. This will allow them to pick up on and treat any potential issues before they become more severe. Dentists also offer various cosmetic procedures that can help you to feel more confident in your smile in the second half of your life.