Get up in the morning and clean your teeth. Eat a meal and clean your teeth. Brush your teeth after eating a little sticky snack. You’re in your pyjamas, making your final trip to the toilet, and you wash your teeth before going to bed. Oral hygiene is something we don’t think about until we get a toothache. It’s as essential to our daily routine as cleaning our faces and combing our hair. What if we have no teeth? Is oral hygiene for the elderly still vital, and if so, how can we keep our mouths healthy?
Whether you wear dentures or not, basic oral hygiene is critical to excellent health. Let’s discuss why dental hygiene is so crucial if you wear dentures, as well as the procedures you should take before installing them.
Maintaining Good Oral Hygiene With Dentures And Missing Teeth
Brush your gums, the roof of your mouth, and tongue with a soft brush. If you do not want to use a toothbrush, try using clean gauze or a towel instead. Massage the gums with the towel and remove any food or residue from your mouth. After brushing, swish mouthwash in your mouth to remove any residual residue and bacteria. You should brush and rinse your dentures. You should always clean your dentures after each meal. Make sure your dentures are moist when you put them in. Bear in mind that you should always remove your dentures at night. Soak your dentures in water or a denture cleaning solution overnight. You should never clean your dentures with hot water. It may cause them to distort.
Even if you don’t use dentures, oral hygiene is crucial for the elderly who have no teeth. Taking good care of your mouth and gums will help you avoid pain, infections, and poor breath.
What If You Only Have Gum Tissue?
If you don’t use dentures, here are some ways to keep your mouth and gums healthy. You should brush your tongue gently to eradicate any bacteria that may have developed there. Gums should be brushed at least twice every day. Gums are softer than teeth, so brush gently to avoid injuring sensitive tissue. Remember to use an antibacterial mouthwash every day. Choose solutions that are devoid of alcohol and sugar. Because gingivitis is a gum disease, dental plaque can form even if you don’t have any teeth. Drink lots of water to keep your mouth moisturised. Apply a water-based moisturiser to your lips to keep them moist and prevent cracking.
Other health concerns might arise as a result of an aged person losing teeth. If a person is unable to chew effectively, they may avoid consuming items that promote excellent health.
Why Dental Care Is Important At All Ages
Poor fitting dentures or gums that have changed form and contracted over time make it difficult to chew things like meat, fresh fruits and vegetables, and anything crunchy. As you can see, oral hygiene routines continue even after a full-mouth tooth extraction. In addition to maintaining proper dental hygiene, it is essential to see your dentist yearly. The dentist can examine for infections, improperly fitted dentures, tooth decay and gum disease.
