Tips for Maintaining Healthy Teeth and Gums

As we get older, there are certain areas of our oral health that require more attention.  These tips can help:

  • Continue to practice good oral hygiene. Careful tooth brushing and flossing to reduce dental plaque can help prevent periodontal disease at any age.
  • See your dentist on a regular basis, even if you have dentures. Professional care helps to maintain the overall health of the mouth and gums, and provides for early detection of pre-cancerous or cancerous lesions.
  • Avoid tobacco. Smokers have seven times the risk of developing periodontal disease compared with non-smokers.
  • If medications produce a dry mouth, ask your doctor if there are other drugs that can be substituted. If dry mouth cannot be avoided, drink plenty of water, chew sugarless gum and avoid tobacco and alcohol.

–Source:  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention