Oral health for seniors
Oral health not only involves your teeth, it also involves your lips, tongue, saliva and gums. There are 5 easy to remember points that make up the simple guide to having a healthy mouth and maintaining good health.
They are eat well, drink well, clean well, play well and stay well.
Focusing on clean well, here are 5 tips for oral health:
- Brush morning and night, using a soft toothbrush on gums, tongue and teeth.
- Use a pea-size amount of standard fluoride toothpaste.
- Spit out residue toothpaste but do not rinse the mouth after brushing. This allows the fluoride to pass effectively into the teeth.
- Replace a toothbrush: (i) when the bristles become shaggy; (ii) every three months; and (iii) following an acute infection, such as thrush. This helps to prevent harm to the mouth.
- Use dental floss and interdental brushes (with care) to remove debris from between teeth.
There are also CLEAN WELL oral health tips for those with dentures:
- Clean dentures daily with a denture brush and liquid soap to remove plaque from all surfaces, then rinse well under running water.
- Do not use toothpaste, it is abrasive and can damage the denture surface.
- Hold the dentures carefully while brushing, and clean them in a bowl of water placed in a sink to protect them from breakage if dropped.
- Brush gums and tongue with a standard toothbrush to remove plaque in the mouth.
- Remove dentures overnight and store in cold water. This allows gum tissue to rest.
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Source and more tips visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/oralhealth/prevention/Publications/oral-health-older-people-toolkit.pdf
