It’s Healthy Aging Month, and as your dental practice, we want to see you in the best of health, no matter what your age is. Healthy aging can mean many things to many people but is especially important in older adults. From eating right to getting the right amount of sleep and everything in between, there are ways to help keep your body in great shape as you age.
One important factor in aging is caring for your oral health. Oral health is important at any age, but it can be especially crucial for seniors and older adults. That’s because our oral health affects many other systems of the body, and can worsen many conditions faced predominantly by older adults.
Conditions such as stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease can all be affected by things like oral health and sleep apnea, so it is important to care for your oral health and treat any sleep disorders to help stave off comorbid conditions and stop them from worsening.
The most important thing you can do for your oral health is to brush twice a day for two minutes each time, and floss at least once a day. If you can, brush or scrape your tongue to eliminate even more oral bacteria and rinse before brushing with an alcohol-free over-the-counter mouthwash.
Furthermore, seniors need oral health checkups regularly, even if they no longer have natural teeth. This is to make sure the gums and teeth (if applicable) are healthy. It also gives Dr. Mingus the opportunity to screen you for oral health conditions like periodontitis and oral cancer.
For seniors with sleep apnea, it is also important to treat this condition, as it has been linked to many diseases including cancers and heart conditions. It also increases your risk for sudden death if not treated.
Thankfully, there are treatment options for both gum conditions and sleep apnea, both of which Dr. Mingus is happy to discuss. If you are interested in learning more about your oral health and sleep apnea options, please contact Dr. Mingus’s office and schedule a consultation or exam today.