Dental health is important for all people, but older adults should pay even greater attention. Poor oral health has been linked to memory problems in senior adults, and gum disease has been linked conclusively to a higher incidence of heart disease. Anyone who has suffered painful dental cleanings or root canals knows the more immediate hazards of poor oral health.

On the positive side, healthy teeth and gums are their own reward. These individuals can eat and drink without pain, and don’t have to endure corrective procedures in the dentist’s chair. Practicing oral hygiene also has its social benefits. Fresh breath and shiny teeth are attractive at any age, and senior adults are certainly no exception.

So how can older adults promote oral health, especially at an age when many people start to see major problems in their teeth and jaws for the first time in life? We’ll look at this issue from two different perspectives: supplementary prevention and hygiene. Practiced together, these methods should keep your teeth and gums healthy, no matter how old you are.

Preventing Problems in the Teeth and Jaw With Natural Products

Teeth, gum, and jaw problems don’t crop up over night. They take weeks, months, and years to set in. Fortunately, most of these issues are preventable. As people grow older, they need extra nutrition and better hygiene practices to keep their mouths truly healthy. Let’s take a look at the former, to see what natural products can help in this effort.

Triphala is an herbal preparation that has been used for more than a thousand years in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Triphala mouthwash has been shown to cut down on bacteria in the saliva in significant amounts. It’s impossible to completely remove bacteria from the mouth, nor would you want to. After all, bacteria serve an important purpose in oral health and primary digestion, but bacteria populations that grow out of control are problematic. Triphala mouthwash can help keep your oral bacteria in order.

It’s also important to give your body the nutrition it needs to maintain jaw and tooth strength. Carlson Labs and Jarrow Formulas both have products that help strengthen bones. This can help you improve the integrity of your jaw, which could help you keep your teeth much longer. Some older adults experience jaw decay, which may not manifest until the teeth start to get loose, and the surrounding tissue damaged.

Improving Oral Hygiene for Better Tooth, Gum, and Jaw Health

Keeping a clean mouth is obviously the primary way most of us prevent tooth decay and gum disease. However, it’s easy to get into the habit of not caring properly for the mouth, especially as we get older. For example, insurance problems and busy living can see us going to the dentist only several times per decade, instead of the twice annually recommended by physicians. Similarly, it can be tough to floss every day as recommended, leading to low level gum disease that persists for months or years.

Daily brushing, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash can prevent the worst oral health problems from manifesting, especially when you go to the dentist once every six months. A dentist can fix any damage that is present, show you how to stop more from accumulating, and teach you the techniques you can use on your own to keep your mouth healthy.

All of these tips are good for anyone of any age, but they’re particularly relevant for senior adults. Old age doesn’t guarantee gum, tooth, and jaw problems. Natural products, healthy living, and sound oral hygiene practices can give you a healthy mouth for life.