Dental Care at Every Age
Proper dental hygiene is essential at every stage of life, from childhood through your golden years. In this blog, we discuss how your dental needs change over time and how to prepare for unique dental issues that can arise in specific age groups as you enter your next phase of life.
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Dental Care for Infants and Toddlers
You may not think dental hygiene is that important when your baby has no teeth or when your toddler is getting teeth that will just fall out later. However, the best way to form lasting habits for good dental hygiene is to start at a young age. Once your baby begins to teethe, use a soft toothbrush to clean their teeth. Gentle brushing removes residue and ensures that sugars from breastmilk, formula, or other foods aren’t left sitting on their teeth, allowing bacteria to grow.
By the time your baby reaches their first birthday, you should find a good family dentist and schedule their first appointment, not only to get them comfortable with regular checkups but to allow their dentist to monitor their dental development so any potential issues can be caught early on.
Dental Care for Children
Continuing to encourage your child to practice good oral hygiene is important throughout their childhood years, as it sets the stage for lifelong good habits. Your child’s teeth are now fully grown in and probably beginning to fall out to make room for their adult teeth. Keeping their gums healthy is crucial for preventing tooth decay and other problems later, but children’s teeth also help them in their speech development and nutritional habits. If your child is experiencing tooth pain, their nutrition may suffer, or they may be distracted at school.
It may be difficult to discourage sugary foods and drinks, but make sure that whenever your child enjoys a treat, they brush their teeth thoroughly at least twice daily and floss once daily.
Dental Care for Teens
Now that your child is a teenager, they have much more autonomy over their routines and diet. While it’s impossible to monitor their lives 24/7, talking to them about the importance of dental health is crucial. Teens often experiment with tobacco during this time, so it’s essential to make sure that they’re aware of the dangers smoking and vaping pose to their overall health as well as their dental health. Additionally, the teen years are when orthodontic care usually takes place, with clear aligners or braces used to straighten their teeth. Stressing the importance of thorough cleaning while they have braces will help ensure their smile comes out sparkling and beautiful when the brackets come off.
Other dental care tips for this time in your child’s life include making sure they have teeth protection when playing sports and continuing with regular dental checkups to monitor the growth and movement of their wisdom teeth, as well as any changes to their gum health due to hormone shifts brought on by puberty.
Dental Care for Adults
When you’re an adult, dental hygiene remains as important as ever. Not only are you keeping your teeth and gums healthy with daily brushing and flossing, but protecting your teeth for the future is at the forefront. Adults may get caught up in the daily hustle of life and let their dental hygiene fall by the wayside or forget to schedule regular dental checkups. However, the following are some of the things you should be aware of as you (and your teeth) continue to age:
- Gum disease, or periodontitis, is more predominant in adults
- Wear and tear on your teeth due to time and habits such as teeth clenching or grinding
- Cracked, chipped, or broken teeth that may need to be addressed with cosmetic dentistry or dental implants
Maintaining the integrity of your teeth and gums is essential to preserving not just your teeth but your overall health. Left untreated, the bacteria that causes periodontitis can enter your bloodstream and put you at a higher risk for stroke and heart disease.
Dental Care for Seniors
As you move into your golden years, new dental challenges arise. Receding gums and reduced bone density may lead to tooth damage or loss, while changes in mobility from arthritis can make cleaning hard-to-reach spots in your mouth more difficult. Some medications can impact your oral health—a common side effect of medication is dry mouth, which can lead to an increased risk of gum disease. However, doing your best to maintain your healthy dental hygiene habits and visiting your dentist for twice-yearly checkups can keep your teeth looking and functioning exactly as they should.
Learn More About Dental Care at Any Age
At Royal Dental Care, we offer a wide variety of services designed to keep your teeth and gums as healthy and beautiful as possible for as long as you’re in our care—and beyond. To learn more about what we can do to keep your smile gleaming, call us today at (773) 232-3929 (Norridge) or (847) 999-7620 (Schaumburg) or complete the online contact form.