![\"\"](\"http:\/\/hudsonhighlandsdentistryblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/seniorshealthysmil_2.jpg\")
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MORE AND MORE PEOPLE <\/strong>are keeping their original teeth well into their old age. It\u2019s fantastic! However, it\u2019s really important to understand the special attention needed to maintain a healthy smile when you\u2019re 60+ years of age. Whether you<\/em> fall in that category, or you care for someone who is elderly<\/strong>, there are a few things below that we\u00a0want to be sure our senior patients know. <\/p>\n Dry mouth (xerostomia) affects many seniors. Lower saliva flow is often a function of aging. In addition, many medications can also cause dry mouth. Without the cleansing, pH balancing and remineralizing that saliva helps take care of, one\u2019s oral health isn\u2019t as protected as it could be. Treat dry mouth<\/strong>\u00a0by occasionally sucking on a sugarless mint or chewing sugarless gum to encourage saliva flow. Swishing water regularly can also help keep one\u2019s mouth clean and better hydrated. <\/p>\n [youtube https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=pvMIunWm_xY?rel=0] <\/p>\n For some people over 60, their ability to fight infections like gingivitis isn\u2019t as strong as it once was. Some studies show that unhealthy gums can leave the rest of the body vulnerable to other inflammatory diseases\u2014including heart disease or stroke. Even Alzheimer\u2019s and dementia have been potentially linked to this problem. So please make sure<\/strong> that you\u2019re flossing (or that the person you care for is flossing)\u2014not just for one\u2019s oral health, but also for one\u2019s whole body health. <\/p>\n Many seniors find that impaired mobility makes the routine tasks of brushing and flossing really difficult. If you, or someone you love is in that position, please ask us<\/strong> about products like electric toothbrushes and floss piks that can make the job easier. <\/p>\n Based on the risk factors mentioned above, it\u2019s especially important for seniors to get regular, thorough cleanings and check-ups<\/strong>. When you visit, be sure to tell us about your medications, your brushing and flossing habits, and any medical conditions you\u2019re experiencing. The more we know, the more we can help you continue to have great oral health over a lifetime. <\/p>\n We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment! By the way, do you already Like\u00a0our Facebook page?<\/strong> If not, come say hello!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" MORE AND MORE PEOPLE <\/strong>are keeping their original teeth well into their old age. It\u2019s fantastic!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":428,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[176],"tags":[],"yst_prominent_words":[],"class_list":["post-427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-176","description-off"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=427"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/428"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=427"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mydentalpracticeblog.com\/hudsonhighlandsdentistry\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Dry Mouth Can Increase Cavity And Gum Disease Risks<\/strong><\/h3>\n
It\u2019s True… An Ounce Of Prevention Is Worth A Pound Of Cure<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Flossing Can Be More Important Than Ever<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Special Tools Are Available To Help With Home Care<\/h4>\n
Keep Regular Checkup Appointments<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Remember that great oral health isn\u2019t just about teeth\u2014it\u2019s about whole body health!<\/h4>\n