We may take for granted that our teeth will always be there for us as we age.  We know aging is inevitable but our teeth and gums age right along with us.  However there are precautions each of us can take to protect and preserve our teeth keeping your smile bright and healthy into the golden years.

By following and paying attention to certain changes that may occur in your mouth, getting regular dental visits and staying free of disease, there is no reason why you shouldn’t be able to keep your own teeth for the rest of your life. 

Here are 3 ways to begin now:

1. Preserve tooth enamel

            Tooth enamel is the shiny white part of our teeth that we actually see and is the toughest substance in the human body.  When it is fully formed, it contains no vessels or nerves, so any tooth pain one experiences is not due to feeling the enamel.

            As the years go by, our tooth enamel can begin to wear away.  Tooth enamel has the important job of protecting your teeth from damage and allows you to eat foods without hurting your teeth.  When the protective enamel has worn away, it makes the teeth more prone to stains, pain, sensitivity, and other problems.

            The usual suspects of wearing away tooth enamel include sugar, candy, highly acidic foods, carbonated beverages (both sweetened and diet), ignoring teeth cleanings, and teeth grinding. 

     To help preserve tooth enamel follow these steps:

·      Avoid acidic beverages as they are very harsh on tooth enamel.  If you do drink them, use a straw so they bypass your teeth.  Drink them only at mealtimes to minimize the “acid attacks” your teeth endure each day. 

·      Finish meals with milk or cheese to neutralize acids

·      Wait about an hour after eating a meal or having an acidic drink as the acid from them can temporarily soften the enamel and brushing right away after a meal can actually brush away some of the enamel

·      Use fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash and drink water that is fluoridated.  Fluoride makes teeth more resistant to acid.

·      Brush teeth gently in a circular motion with a soft-bristle brush and avoid being too aggressive or scrubbing your teeth

2. Prevent receding gums

Unfortunately, for many of us, receding gums is a natural part of aging.  However, certain factors such as brushing too aggressively, gum disease and smoking can contribute to the problem.

Ways to help prevent “getting too long in the tooth,” include brushing and flossing twice a day and using a daily antimicrobial, antiseptic, fluoride-containing mouthwash.  Smoking is no friend to your gums as it can contribute to chronic gum infection, which encourages bone loss and gum loss.  This can lead to teeth that are loosened which increase the likelihood of tooth loss. 

3. Preventing dry mouth

     As the years go by, we begin to produce less saliva.  Another contributor to dry mouth are certain medications which can cause dry mouth.  Saliva is a necessary component found within the mouth keeping it healthy.  It helps neutralizes acid, fight off infection-causing bacteria, and controls bad breath. 

Stimulation of saliva can be achieved by doing the following:

·      Chew sugar-free gum or use sugar-free candies

·      Limiting caffeine intake as it can be drying to the mouth

·      Avoid mouthwashes that contain alcohol and try a mouthwash designed for dry mouth

·      Stop using tobacco products

·      Sip water regularly

·      Try over-the-counter saliva substitutes

·      Avoid using over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants

·      Breathe through your nose and not your mouth

·      Add moisture to the air at night with a room humidifier