In honor of National Senior Citizens Day, observed annually on August 21, I recently interviewed Program Manager of UNH Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), Tori Berube, on Northeast Delta Dental Radio. OLLI offers a wide range of courses for seniors. Seniors with disabilities might also be interested in my radio interview with Chief Operating Officer of Granite State Independent Living (GSIL), Erin Cote. GSIL is a statewide nonprofit with a mission of promoting quality of life with independence for people with disabilities. Visit our website here to listen to one or both interviews.
The topics we discussed during my radio interviews made me think about what those of us who are over 65 need to keep us healthy and productive. Good oral health is necessary for the overall health of seniors because, as we age, our health risks increase, and we become more susceptible to chronic diseases. If we aren’t vigilant, poor oral health can escalate those risks. While we at Northeast Delta Dental recommend beginning good oral health habits early and continuing them throughout life, it’s never too late to cultivate these habits to achieve and keep healthy smiles.
Brush and floss daily. It’s critically important to brush your teeth twice a day and floss once a day to remove plaque, because plaque buildup leads to tooth decay and gum disease.
Visit a dental office twice a year. Your hygienist is the prevention hero of the dental office, cleaning teeth, applying tooth decay deterrents and giving instruction for effective brushing and flossing. Your dentist is the oral health detective, identifying dental problems in their earliest stages and recognizing signs of systemic conditions that may first appear in the mouth. Symptoms of such systemic diseases as oral cancer, diabetes and heart disease may also be discovered first by your dentist.
Eat a healthy diet. Limiting added sugar found in processed foods and sweet beverages is a beneficial diet choice. Excessive sugar consumption leads to tooth decay, increases the risks of gum disease and can cause or contribute to other chronic health conditions.
Confer with a physician and dentist. Your physician and dentist are members of your healthcare team. Remember to tell your physician about changes in your oral health and your dentist about changes in your general health so they can treat you most knowledgeably. For instance, dry mouth can be a side effect of taking certain prescription medications, and your physician and dentist may offer helpful remedies.
For more information on oral health during The Golden Years, either for yourself or someone you care about, visit our website here. These messages are part of a series on oral health through six stages of life, giving information most fitting to each stage in the form of a flyer, quick tips and a video.
