If you were asked what oral health is, what would be your response? Would your answer be the well-being of the teeth and gums? If yes, you’re right, but not totally. Oral health is broader than what most people think. Thankfully, this article will provide adequate information on what you need to know about oral health, aging, and other medical-related issues.
What is oral health?
Oral health, according to BGM Dental, is a vital indicator of the total wellbeing, prosperity, and personal satisfaction of a human’s life. It involves substantially more than solid teeth. It implies being liberated from persistent oral-facial pain conditions, oral and throat tumors, oral delicate tissue sores, birth imperfections like a congenital fissure and sense of taste, and other infections that affect the mouth, dental, and craniofacial tissues, generally known as the craniofacial complex.
People often underestimate the capacities of these issues, but they address the actual embodiment of our existence. These tissues permit us to talk and grin, sigh and hiss, smell, taste, contact, bite, swallow, and others. They also help us display our feelings through looks.
What do oral health diseases entail?
Oral diseases are among the major health issues for many people today, and it has affected humans for a long time, causing torment, inconvenience, distortion, and even death.
Oral health diseases are often non-communicable, and they share the same risks as those of non-communicable diseases.
Some oral health diseases include;
- Tooth decay
- Oro-dental trauma
- Noma
- Oral manifestation of HIV infection
- Gum disease
- Oral cancer
- Throat cancer
- Cleft lip and palate
How to prevent oral disease
- Reduce the intake of alcohol
- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Quit tobacco
Does oral health affect aging?
Oral health does affect aging. This is because the state of one’s oral health can contribute to determining if one would look older than his or her age or look younger.
How does oral health affect aging?
Aging entails the process of growing up and becoming old. Teeth, gums, and oral cavities, in general, need to be properly taken care of during this period. This is because as you age, your body systems also get old and might begin to get weak. If adequate care is not taken for these systems at this point, they become prone to damages and other faults.
Teeth wear and tear when one is aging
Undeniably, teeth are incredibly solid. However, they can also be weak, especially during old age. According to research, the molars can tolerate more than 200 pounds of pressure, but that doesn’t mean they’re indestructible.
An extended period of crunching, biting, and pounding erodes the external layer of your teeth and levels the gnawing edges. When tooth surfaces are opened to acidic foods like citrus products, beverages, and the likes for a long time, the protected enamels tend to break down. A break in the tooth’s external surface leaves the fragile tissue powerless against disturbance and irritation.
Also, as people get older, their teeth become more prone to dental issues and diseases. This is because the nerves in your teeth can decrease, making your teeth more delicate to cavities and other dental issues.
Importance of taking care of your oral health
As you age, it becomes more imperative to take great care of your teeth and dental wellbeing. One basic misinterpretation is that losing your teeth is inescapable. This isn’t accurate because when taken care of appropriately, your teeth can endure forever. Always go for dental check-ups, especially when you start aging. It’s important to sort out gum diseases with the Dentist in Las Vegas as soon as possible so it doesn’t worsen too.
Your mouth helps you feel good when you’re aging:
If you need to feel better, stay strong, and look healthy when aging, you should pay more attention to protecting your oral health.
How to maintain your oral health when aging
Brush at least twice daily with a soft toothbrush:
Using an electric toothbrush would also be beneficial to your oral health.
Clean between your teeth at least once a day with floss:
Flossing prolongs one’s teeth. Clean your dentures regularly and visit your dentist regularly
Drink tap water:
Most tap water contains fluoride, and Flouride helps prevent the teeth from decaying
Quit smoking:
Smoking exposes your oral health to so many diseases and also your entire body.
Visit your dental specialist
Visit your dental specialist routinely for a total dental check-up
Conclusion
Adopting healthy oral habits when aging is always a smart choice. This article has explained the importance of oral health, maintaining oral health when aging, why you should take care of your oral health, and why older adults should take all these seriously.