How to Stay on Top of your Oral Health

There’s a multitude of reasons why you should keep your teeth in good shape – aside from the obvious benefits such as keeping tooth decay and gum disease at bay, and maintaining confidence and integrity - having great oral health is also essential in helping your immune system fight off harmful invaders in the form of bacteria and viruses.  Keeping your teeth healthy as you age can be a little more tricky – gums start to recede and often teeth feel a little more sensitive, but you shouldn’t ever let that demotivate you! Anything that makes our residents feel healthier and more comfortable is part of our duty at Barchester, and we always make sure all of our resident’s healthcare needs are met – whether in one of our residential care homes or one of our assisted living spaces.  

Brush whenever you can

Maintaining a fresh breath is the first reason that comes to mind when thinking about why it is important to clean your teeth. Not only is it important to brush your teeth twice a day, but also try to use floss and chew sugar-free gum when possible. Aside from keeping your breath in-shape which makes it easier to be social during older age, ensuring you brush twice a day also removes plaque which can lead to gum disease.   

Be proactive

Make sure to be proactive, as the single best way to keep your teeth healthy later is to look after them now.  Caring for your teeth now will keep them strong throughout the twilight years, so it’s important to keep receding gums, enamel and gum disease in check.

Floss

Your dentist has always told you to floss daily and you may have ignored it, but it really is fundamental. Flossing once a day helps you reach a whole third of your tooth that can’t be cleaned with a regular toothbrush and is a great way to get rid of plaque on all sides of your teeth. If you are having trouble flossing due to arthritis, why not consider an aid such as a flossing pick? Remember, it’s never too late to start flossing, so try to make it into a daily habit if possible.

Oral care and Dementia

Dementia is a progressive disease, meaning it is important to establish a dental care programme soon after diagnosis. If you’re struggling to provide all the necessary care for someone with dementia, why not check out our dementia care homes – we can ensure the experience is as close as possible to how the person would’ve been looked after at home. 

If you have an elderly person in your care, consider speaking to your dentist about their specific needs – at Barchester, it becomes our duty to ensure residents health and wellbeing, so if you need some help dealing with looking after an elderly friend or relative, be sure to contact us or check out our care homes near you.