SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI-Thanks to improved dental technologies and better preventive care and education, people are keeping their teeth for decades longer than they used to, allowing them to continue to eat the foods they like and feel better about smiling, talking and laughing.
Springfield MO dentists Dr. Tracy Davis and Drs. Kelly and Marc Barnett are sharing tips to help keep a happy, healthy and younger-looking smile whether the senior still has his or her natural teeth or has a full set of dentures.
More Effective Than Plastic Surgery?
People may think of Botox or plastic surgery for looking younger. But it turns out that there may be something much less expensive and painful to achieve even better results: flossing. Cleaning between teeth and under the gum line may do more to fight the effects of aging than plastic surgery in the long-run, according to msnbc.com. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37692310/ns/health-skin_and_beauty/#.T373w_uXRKI)
“Daily flossing removes the sticky film of bacteria that a toothbrush can’t reach, which is about 40 percent of teeth surfaces,” says Dr. Kelly Barnett. “Bacteria cause the staining and yellowing between and around teeth that age a person’s appearance.”
Plaque, which can make teeth feel fuzzy, must be removed every day to prevent cavities and more serious dental problems. In addition to daily flossing, Dr. Davis says patients need to brush teeth twice a day, once in the morning and once before bed, with fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristle toothbrush, using small circular motions and short back-and-forth strokes to get all sides of the tooth, along the gum line and the tongue.
“Arthritis and other conditions can limit hand motion and make it difficult to properly clean teeth for some people,” says Dr. Marc Barnett. “We often recommend sliding a bicycle grip or foam tube over the handle, getting a toothbrush with a larger handle or attaching the handle to your hand with a wide elastic band.”
Come Visit Twice A Year
Visiting your dentist regularly is essential for dental health. At each preventive checkup appointment we do a complete oral health evaluation, which includes checking the teeth for cavities and evaluating the gums and bone for periodontal disease, commonly known as gum infection. We also do a thorough screening for oral cancer.
“We want to see you twice a year and not just because we like you,” Dr. Kelly Barnett says. “It’s the best way to keep you and your mouth healthy.”
Annual oral cancer exams are important for everyone, even people who have lost their teeth or wear dentures. Screenings are the best way to catch oral cancer in the early stages of the disease when treatment is most successful.
In the past, people have accepted periodontal disease as an inevitable aspect of aging. However, it does not have to be, and there are good reasons to prevent and treat the disease promptly. Periodontitis is linked to a number of major health concerns, such as heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease and diabetes.
Periodontal disease is also the cause of receding gum tissue and tooth loss, which make someone look older. There is more space showing between teeth, which can make the area look darker, and gum tissue may look uneven, too. Once a tooth is lost, the bone and supporting gum tissue begin to recede until eventually the lips and cheeks appear caved in and wrinkled.
Replace Missing Teeth To Look Younger
The bone and gum tissue loss is a convincing reason to replace missing teeth for aesthetic reasons, but replacing teeth is important for the function of your bite, too.
“Every tooth in your mouth plays an important role in speaking, chewing and in maintaining proper alignment of other teeth, so the sooner you can replace the tooth the better,” says Dr. Davis.
Drs. Barnett and Dr. Davis can replace one or more missing teeth with dental bridges, fixed partials or dental implants. A consultation with one of the experts can help you find out what the best option is for your situation.
Dental Procedures That Help You Look The Age You Feel
Cosmetic dentistry procedures and orthodontic treatment are not just for younger people.
Aligning teeth can be done at any age as long as the bones and tissues are healthy. In 2008, more than a million adults were wearing braces, or about 20 percent of orthodontic patients, and that number continues to increase, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. (http://www.latimes.com/health/la-he-adult-braces-20110704,0,7251522,full.story).
Orthodontic treatment brings teeth into proper alignment and widens the arch of the teeth. This creates better facial balance and aesthetics, lending the appearance of fuller cheeks and lips, smoother and higher cheek contours and a broader smile. We offer invisible braces and orthodontic treatment that can be completed in six months.
Clean, white teeth also give a healthy, youthful appearance to a smile, and a simple in-office whitening procedure can get a smile looking its best again. The system even works on tetracycline-stained dark teeth.
“We see patients from age three to 103 and offer the full range of dental services-restorative to cosmetic-to help each person achieve a healthy, beautiful smile,” says Dr. Davis.
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