Just as every part of your body, your teeth are subject to the woes of aging. Daily habits that might seem harmless in a given moment are likely to have a cumulative effect on both the structure and the appearance of your teeth. If you consume coffee, soda, and wine on a regular basis, deep stains can set in. Smokers or users of any tobacco products have the triple whammy of stains, bad breath, and potential gum disease from irritation. There are patterns of aging teeth you may want to expect, and things that you can prevent, or even change after they happen.
Questions
Q1. True or false – After you pass about 40-years-old, you are less likely to get tooth decay. Your dentist will probably tell you that dental checkups can become annual as opposed to biannual.
Q2. True or false – Chewing gum of any kind can help prevent cavities.
Q3. True or false – Bread is bad for your teeth.
Answers
A1. FALSE – You should definitely continue to go to the dentist at least once every six months, no matter how old you are. As people become elderly, it’s an especially pivotal time. Someone with diminished memory or motor skills might have a very difficult time keeping up with twice-daily brushing and flossing. In these cases, your dentist might recommend more frequent appointments to clean plaque off of your teeth.
A2. FALSE – Not all gum is created equally. Yes, chewing gum can increase saliva production and eliminate food debris and bacteria. However, it must be of a sugarless variety, preferably sweetened by xylitol which has several dental health benefits.
A3. TRUE – Bread, and any food that’s high in refined carbohydrates is likely to be just as bad for your teeth as sugary foods. Carbs break down into sucrose which is just another name for sugar. Sucrose is the favorite meal of the oral bacteria that cause tooth decay.
ABOUT YOUR LIBERTYVILLE DENTIST:
Dr. Brent Engelberg and his highly-skilled team proudly serve patients and their families from Arlington Heights, IL, and all surrounding communities, including; Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, and the Northern and Northwest Chicago Suburbs. To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at 847-259-8030.
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