Skip to main content

Senior Dental Health

Taking care of your teeth is always important! It’s not something that goes away with age. As you age, your dental needs shift. There are oral health concerns that weren’t present before. Many of these issues stem from aging. Your teeth are bones, and all bones weaken with age. Past the age of sixty, your risk for periodontal (gum) disease, teeth extraction, and tooth decay increase. That’s why it’s important to schedule an appointment with Healthy Smiles Family Dental. Drs. Na Xu and Mark Thomas provide professional and friendly dental care. Learn more at our office in Salem, OR.


 


You should never take your dental health for granted. Your teeth are a necessary and important part of your life. Keeping them healthy keeps your whole body healthy. Many older patients struggle with brushing. Your Salem dentists have a few pieces of advice. First, purchase an electric toothbrush. These are easier to use while providing thorough brushing. Electric toothbrushes are great for patients who struggle with physical tasks. They require much less physical activity and energy. You can also try to extend the brush handle. Wrap it in rubber, foam, or even tape tongue depressors to it. Most grocery stores and supermarkets also sell toothbrushes targeted at older patients. These are much gentler on your teeth. You should also consider switching to a soft-bristled toothbrush.


 


Do you live with an older individual or are a caretaker for one? Your involvement with their dental hygiene goes a long way. Remind them to floss, brush, and even attend bi-annual dental appointments. You can manually assist them if they struggle with their motor skills or dementia. Many times older patients need more frequent dental checkups. If you are struggling with the cost, reach out to your local public health or social services offices. They provide discounted or even free dental care to qualifying individuals.


 


Healthy Smiles Family Dental is located in Salem, OR. To schedule an appointment with Drs. Na Xu or Mark Thomas, visit their website or call 503-385-1185.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What You Should Know About Periodontal Disease

Benefits of Teeth Whitening

Teeth become discolored by the foods we eat, the beverages we consume, and from lifestyle factors such as smoking, or taking certain medications. Discoloration is a natural part of life but when a patient desires a whiter smile, teeth whitening or bleaching can improve the color of teeth by several shades. At Healthy Smiles Family Dental, Dr. Na Xu gives patients the option to whiten in-office, or in the comfort of his or her own home. Teeth bleaching is one of the most common dental procedures that is performed across the country. Once the teeth become brighter, a person will feel a boost in his or her self-esteem and may desire to smile more than ever before. After scheduling a consultation to decide if whitening is right for you, Dr. Xu will either recommend whitening at home, with custom trays that will be created for you in the office, or laser whitening. If you have questions or concerns regarding teeth whitening or bleaching, please give us a call. To learn about services provid

Gum Abscesses

Gum disease isn’t just a matter of a little swelling. It’s an infection that could spread elsewhere in the body and cause a lot of pain. But it is treatable, and the earlier people seek intervention, the better. At Healthy Smiles Family Dental in Salem, we help patients recover from gum abscesses, but we need people to know when to come see us. The early stage of gum disease is gingivitis. If allowed to progress, it becomes periodontitis, in which the walls of the gum pocket recede from around the root of a tooth. Abscesses are pockets filled with pus, a fluid made up of infectious bacteria, dead tissue, and acid. When an abscess forms near the gum line in a person with gingivitis, it is called a gingival abscess, and when it forms in the gum pocket of someone with periodontitis, it is a periodontal abscess. An abscess will cause persistent pain, a bad taste, and may prevent the patient from fully opening their mouth. It may also induce fever, as bacteria enters the bloodstream. We ca