Oral Health

How to Take Care of Teeth for Elderly

How to Take Care of Teeth for Elderly

Blog, Oral Health·

Take Care of Teeth for Elderly – Healthy teeth are everyone’s dream, including the elderly (elderly). At the age of 60 years, the condition of the body is certainly not as strong as before, especially in the teeth. Because of this concern, it is proper for the elderly to take care of their teeth in the right and appropriate way.

Teeth can fall out more easily as you get older if your parents smoked and didn’t keep your teeth clean. However, there are several other causes that in fact can also increase the risk of the elderly experiencing tooth loss.

Routine is the key to teeth and dental flossing is important to maintain oral health, especially for the elderly. In the elderly, plaque can build up quickly on the teeth, especially if your parents did not maintain good oral hygiene. Not only can this increase the risk of tooth decay, but it can also lead to gum disease which in turn can cause the elderly teeth to easily fall out.

Also Read Characteristics of Cavities That You Must Know

The risk of experiencing dental health problems in the elderly

When entering old age, one of the common elderly diseases that arise is dental and oral health problems. Some of the dental and oral health conditions that commonly occur in the elderly are:

  • Cavity.
  • Gum problems.
  • Loose teeth.
  • Oral cancer.
  • However, of the many problems that may arise, cavities are indeed one of the most common. It is true, the risk of experiencing this condition increases with age.

Usually, the elderly experience cavities due to dry mouth. But make no mistake, dry mouth is not part of the aging process. This condition often occurs in the elderly because of the side effects of treatment.

Yes, there are certain types of treatment for certain conditions that can cause dry mouth. For example asthma, high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, anxiety disorders, depression, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.

Therefore, in order to avoid various health problems in the elderly, dentists need to know the type of medicine you are using. That way, your doctor can help recommend ways to relieve the side effects of dry mouth and prevent cavities in older people’s teeth. You should know about several tips to take care of teeth for elderly incase you have someone elderly in your family.

Tips to Take Care of Teeth for Elderly

1. Restrict sweet and starch-containing foods

Elderly nurses can help prevent dental and oral disorders in the elderly by reducing or limiting sugary or starchy foods and drinks. Both are foods and drinks that can damage teeth, regardless of your age, both children and when you enter old age.

Sugar creates acid that can erode your teeth. While foods containing starch stick to the teeth and form plaque, which makes bacteria accumulate on the teeth.

In addition, avoid foods or drinks that contain artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. Because, these artificial sweeteners make you want to consume more sugar. Not to mention, consuming it can increase weight, increase the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

2. Keep a healthy diet

A healthy diet for the elderly will help take care of the teeth and mouth of the elderly. Be sure to add fermented foods to your diet to help balance the bacteria that live in your mouth.

Some types of fermented foods such as cheese, butter, kefir, and yogurt. You can also add other fermented foods such as kimchi, kombucha, or miso to your daily menu.

In addition, the consumption of foods that can help boost the immune system of the elderly. This will help protect you from infections and diseases of the mouth, as you get older.

Some foods that can boost immunity are garlic, coconut oil, green vegetables, spirulina, papaya, kiwi, and oranges.

3. Follow the dentist’s advice

If the elderly have had dental implants or fillings, this needs appropriate treatment to keep getting healthy teeth in old age. Do the treatment recommended by the doctor to maintain the repair of your teeth.

If your elderly wear dentures, be sure to keep them clean and follow the dentist’s special care guidelines. Just like natural teeth, dentures can last a long time if you take good care of them.

4. Go to the dentist regularly

In addition to doing dental care at home, you still have to regularly check your dentist’s teeth. The reason is, visiting the dentist regularly can help you detect dental problems that may occur. This will make it easier for the doctor to treat the dental problem immediately.

The problem is, if parents delay treatment of problematic teeth, the damage that occurs can be permanent. This means that the condition is too severe to be treated by a doctor.

When you go to the dental clinic, the doctor will examine and help clean it thoroughly. In fact, the doctor will carry out the treatment to a point that you cannot reach when cleaning it yourself. This will make the teeth, gums, and mouth of the elderly healthier.

5. Use dental floss

Brushing and flossing your teeth every day is very important to maintain oral health so that your teeth do not have problems when you reach old age. This is because plaque can build up quickly on the teeth of the elderly, especially if oral hygiene is neglected, causing tooth decay and gum disease.

Conclusion

In order to avoid dental and oral problems, the elderly who use dentures are also recommended to brush and rinse their teeth before and after soaking them in a special cleaning liquid.

Due to the decline in the function of the body’s organs, of course, dental and oral health when you reach old age need attention. Apply the tips on caring for the teeth for the elderly above so that your teeth are healthy and strong. One of the most important things, undergo regular checkups to the dentist and keep yourself from eating foods that are at risk of damaging your teeth.

References

Manual and Electric Toothbrush, Which One is The Best?

Manual and Electric Toothbrush, Which One is The Best?

Blog, Oral Health·

Manual and Electric Toothbrush – Did you know that toothbrushes come in many forms? There are regular or manual toothbrushes and there are electric ones. Although the function is the same, the two types of toothbrush have a slightly different way of working. Between manual and electric toothbrushes, which one is better?

The way manual and electric toothbrushes work is slightly different. An electric toothbrush uses electricity. So the bristles can move and rotate automatically. While manual toothbrushes must be moved and rotated by themselves using hands.

Also Read Characteristics of Cavities That You Must Know

Difference between Manual and Electric Toothbrush

Manual and electric toothbrushes both work to remove plaque and food residue on your teeth and gums. Before deciding which type of toothbrush is better, you need to first know the advantages and disadvantages of each.

1. Manual toothbrush

Manual toothbrushes are quite effective in removing plaque from your teeth. In addition, this type of toothbrush also has several advantages :

  • Easy to get, be it at a pharmacy, warung, or supermarket
  • More practical and does not need to use batteries
  • The price is relatively cheap
  • Available in many shapes and choices of bristles
  • Although it has advantages, manual toothbrushes also have disadvantages. In the use of this type of toothbrush, people usually tend to brush their teeth too hard, so the risk of damaging the teeth and injuring the gums.

But, brushing too hard can also erode tooth enamel or the protective layer of your teeth. Eroded tooth enamel will make your teeth look yellower and darker.

If you use a manual toothbrush, it will also make it difficult for users to know whether the duration of brushing their teeth is ideal or not. Because ideally a good brushing time is for about 1-2 minutes.

2. Electric toothbrush

Electric toothbrushes can reduce plaque by about 21% more than manual toothbrushes. In addition, the use of an electric toothbrush is also less risky for causing gingivitis.

This type of toothbrush is also good for long-term use and is effective in preventing tooth decay. Other advantages too:

  • Easy to use
  • Equipped with a timer feature that makes it easy to brush your teeth with the ideal time waktu
  • It has a pressure sensor feature that is able to detect when the teeth are brushed too hard.
  • A good choice of toothbrush for children and people with certain conditions, such as hand arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and people with disabilities.
  • It is the right choice of toothbrush for braces or stirrup users because it can make cleaning teeth easier
  • Makes users more focused when brushing their teeth, so the results can be maximized

Electric toothbrushes also have their drawbacks :

  • Less effective in the elderly in cleaning dental plaque than a manual toothbrush
  • The price is quite expensive and not available everywhere, especially in areas far from big cities
  • Not practical when used when traveling because you need to carry a spare brush head

So, Manual or Electric Toothbrush?

Whatever type of toothbrush you use, be it a manual and electric toothbrush, it will be equally effective in maintaining healthy teeth and mouth as long as it is done the right way.

Make sure you brush your teeth at least 2 times a day and for at least 2 minutes. In addition, there are several other important things that need to be considered in maintaining dental and oral health :

  • Avoid exchanging toothbrushes with other people.
  • Choose a toothbrush head that is the right size for your mouth.
  • Choose a toothbrush with soft, smooth bristles.
  • Use toothpaste that contains fluoride.

If you are confused about choosing the right type of toothbrush or have problems with your teeth and gums, don’t hesitate to consult a dentist.

References

Characteristics of Cavities That You Must Know

Characteristics of Cavities That You Must Know

Blog, Cavities, Oral Health·

Characteristics of Cavities – Did you know? Cavities is a condition in which the tooth is damaged. Which erodes the tooth (email) to the inside of the tooth (dentin), forming a hole. Cavities are caused by bacteria in the mouth, frequent consumption of sweet foods, and poor oral hygiene.

You will usually feel cavities. Several disorders are common, both in adults and children. Therefore, you should check with the dentist. Because, it needs to be done regularly, generally cavities do not cause pain at first so they are difficult to detect. Pregnant women or children who experience cavities should immediately consult a doctor. That’s all because treatment and prevention can be different.

If your teeth are cavities and not treated immediately, the holes will enlarge, and are at risk of causing infection and decaying teeth, and tooth loss.

Also Read Some Causes of Swollen and Bleeding Gums

Characteristics of Cavities

If you want to know the characteristics of cavities, generally the symptoms that appear in each person can be different. Because it depends on the severity and location of the hole in the tooth. When your cavities are small and just forming, symptoms may not appear or be felt. However, when the condition is getting worse than usual, such as:

  • You will feel a toothache, especially when biting or when the tooth is pressed.
  • Your teeth become sensitive.
  • Pain when consuming sweet, cold or hot food or drinks.
  • There are holes that are clearly visible in your teeth.
  • Pain in the teeth that occurs spontaneously for no apparent reason.
  • There are parts of your teeth that turn white, brown, or black.

Causes of Your Cavities

If you have cavities, it is usually preceded by the presence of plaque in the mouth. Plaque comes from food residue that contains sugar, such as bread, cereal, milk, soft drinks, fruit, cakes, or candy, which is then converted by natural bacteria in the mouth into acids.

The combination of bacteria, acid, food residue in your mouth. Then the saliva, will form plaque that adheres to the teeth. The acids present in plaque slowly erode the layers of your teeth, and eventually form holes in your teeth.

In addition to the things mentioned before, you can get cavities also be caused by other things:

  • You do not use toothpaste containing fluoride. Fluoride is a compound that is generally contained in toothpaste, serves to maintain health and prevent tooth decay.
  • You eat too many sweet or sour foods or drinks.
  • Your mouth is very dry.
  • Suffering from eating disorders and acid reflux disease.
  • Increase in your age.
  • Regular use of medications, such as supplements, vitamins, or herbal products that contain sugar.
  • You rarely brush or floss your teeth.

What is the diagnosis of cavities looks like?

Your examination usually begins with a question and answer session, especially about the symptoms you are experiencing. The dentist will then look at the condition of the mouth and teeth. Then touch your teeth with a special tool to check for areas that are tender due to tooth decay.

Dental X-rays can also be used to check the condition of the teeth. X-rays can show damage that has occurred in the tooth, even though the damage has not been seen with the eye.

You can prevent cavities

Some things that can be done to prevent cavities are:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day with toothpaste that contains fluoride.
  • Floss your teeth at least once a day.
  • Use mouthwash or mouthwash after brushing your teeth.
  • Reduce consumption of sweet or sour foods and drinks, such as candy or fizzy drinks.
  • Reduce snacking habits.
  • If cavities are caused by a health condition, such as acid reflux disease or dry mouth, talk to your doctor about how to treat them.
  • Consult your dentist first before using any medications, supplements or herbal products.

You can also eat some of these foods and drink to prevent it:

  • Black tea or green tea without sugar/sweetener.
  • Drinking water containing fluoride.
  • Foods high in calcium, such as nuts and cheese.
  • Low-sugar gum containing xylitol.

Treatment of cavities

Treatment of cavities can vary, depending on the severity of the condition experienced by each patient. Some medical actions that can be taken to treat cavities

Conclusion

Cavities will cause pain, especially if the condition gets worse. For that we recommend you to come to the nearest dental clinic so that the doctor can treat you properly. You can also visit our clinic at 99Dentist and make online appointments during this pandemic.

References

Is it Important to Teaching Oral Health to Children?

Is it Important to Teaching Oral Health to Children?

Blog, Oral Health·

Teaching Oral Health to Children – It is important to take care of children’s overall health. Including the health of their teeth and mouth. Unfortunately, not many parents may need to be taught to maintain dental and oral health from an early age. Many parents think that just teeth are enough.

Teaching oral health to children and also dental health is one of the good habits that must be taught by parents since childhood. That way, this can become a habit and make children have a high awareness to do this for the rest of their lives. In fact, this habit helps prevent caries and periodontal disease as people age.

Also Read Some Causes of Swollen and Bleeding Gums

The Risk If You Not Maintaining Dental and Oral Health

Brushing your teeth regularly can be one way to keep your teeth and mouth healthy. But keep in mind, that alone may not be enough, especially in children. Routines of brushing teeth, cleaning the oral cavity using mouthwash, and using dental floss are still not effective in avoiding disorders of the teeth and mouth.

This condition should not be ignored. The reason is, problems with teeth and mouth can be fatal and affect the overall health condition of the body. Infections of the teeth or gums can spread to other body tissues. In severe conditions, infection can increase the risk of disease or disorders of other organs.

There are various dental and oral health problems that can arise if your little one is not used to keeping the area clean. The risk of disease increases in children who rarely brush their teeth, chew gum or sugary foods excessively, and drink less water. In fact, these habits are prone to damage teeth and gums.

If your child’s teeth are damaged, it can cause pain, swelling of the gums, cavities, and even tooth decay in children. There are various types of toothache that may appear.

1. Dental Caries

This pain is common and often occurs in children. Dental caries arises because there is a buildup of plaque in the area of ​​their teeth and mouth. Plaque is bacteria or dirt that sticks and lives in the oral cavity. Plaque appears due to food residue that is not cleaned or not brushing your teeth before going to bed.

2. Gingivitis

Then gingivitis, aka inflammation of the gums can also appear due to poor oral hygiene. Not much different from dental caries, gingivitis is also caused by the buildup of plaque on the teeth. This infection causes inflamed gums and makes your child’s gums bleed easily.

3. Periodontitis

You need to know, disorders of the gums can get worse, especially if the child does not have the habit of brushing his teeth properly. A more dangerous condition can occur, namely periodontitis. This condition is a serious gum infection that can damage the soft tissue and bone that support teeth. Symptoms that arise as a sign of this disease are bad breath, changes in the color of the gums to bright red or purplish, swelling and bleeding of the gums.

Conclusion

Therefore, it is important to Teaching Oral Health to Children to keep their teeth and mouth clean to avoid these diseases. If you are in doubt and need doctor’s advice, you can come to our clinic. Or you can also more easily contact the dentist and find out about tips on maintaining the health of your child’s teeth and mouth through our contact.

References