Nearing retirement or relaxing after years of hard work—that’s something to smile about. But how should you care for your smile during this new stage of life?

Good oral care and regular dental check-ups can help to keep you smiling throughout retirement. Although many oral health problems become more prevalent with age, most are preventable!

What to look for:

• Periodontal disease can occur throughout life, but often appears with age. If you experience red, swollen or tender gums, bleeding while brushing or flossing; or gums that pull away from teeth, let your dentist know immediately.
• Dry mouth occurs when salivary glands don’t work properly due to certain diseases, medications, cancer treatment, or simply because of age. Since saliva is essential to help rinse your mouth of the bacteria and acid that break down enamel, if you are experiencing dry mouth, you are at a greater risk of cavities and periodontal disease. Talk to your dentist about a treatment plan. Staying away from sweets, tobacco, alcohol and caffeine may also help.
• Oral Cancer is most common in those over the age of 40 and can be hard to detect in its early stages.² Let your dentist know right away if you see any red or white patches on the gums or tongue, have sores that don’t heal within 2 weeks or have unusual spots on the mouth. Your dentist can conduct regular oral cancer screens, making regular checkups even more important to your health.

Dentures
Just because you have dentures doesn’t mean you shouldn’t visit the dentist regularly!

Periodontal disease and oral cancer can affect anyone, including denture-wearers. Also, periodic visits will allow the dentist to assess the fit of your dentures, as your gums and oral tissue can shrink over time, and loose- or ill-fitting dentures can cause discomfort, sores and infections.

Make sure to practice good oral care as recommended by your dentist, which often includes gently brushing your tongue, gums and palate daily, eating a healthy diet, and keeping your dentures clean with a soft-bristled brush and denture cleanser. Keep in mind that dentures are very fragile, and should be held over a folded towel or a sink full of water when cleaning, and kept in water or a denture cleansing solution when not worn in order to maintain their shape.

What can I do to keep my mouth and my body healthy?

Don’t forget your dental duo—keep up with your home care and visit your dentist regularly. Also, don’t forget to eat a smile-friendly diet.

After all, it is not just your oral health that is on the line, but the health of your entire body. There is growing research that oral health is linked to certain medical conditions, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and respiratory disease.³

That’s why dental health benefits more than just a great smile!

Have arthritis?

Brushing and flossing may be more difficult than it used to be. Talk to your dentist for suggestions on how to make brushing and flossing less painful.

Trouble with grip?

Try wrapping a washcloth around the handle of your toothbrush and securing with a rubber band.
-or-
Try using an electric toothbrush.

Periodontal Disease
defined: An infection of the tissues that support teeth.
There are two types:

1. Gingivitis – an infection of the gums around the teeth
2. Periodontitis– more severe than gingivitis because the infection has spread to the bone that supports the teeth

SYMPTOMS:

• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Bleeding while brushing or flossing
• Gums that pull away from teeth
• Loss or separating of teeth
• Red, white or swollen areas of mouth