Dental Health Knows No Age

Keeping your teeth and gums in tip-top shape is not restricted to any age; it should be a common practice at all stages of life.

Being acutely aware of oral-health and the effect it has on your overall health is of paramount importance, regardless of your age.

Staying on top of the condition of your oral health is the key to preventing future problems, and this especially true in certain cases. Even with the beginning of life, there are precautionary measures that can be taken to help give your child a head start at oral health.

During pregnancy, mothers have the power to make a real difference in their unborn child’s oral health. By eating an array of healthy foods as well as taking calcium supplements while pregnant.

In addition, a mother taking folic-acid supplements can vastly decrease the risk of the baby being born with a cleft lip and palate.

Once the baby is born, parents can actually wipe the baby’s gums with a damp, soft cloth after feedings. This practice can help prevent the buildup of bacteria.

It may seem a little superfluous, but take it from the doctor who claims that attention to dental health with infants is crucial.

Dr. Mary Hayes, a pediatric dentist from Chicago and a spokesperson for the American Dental Association, says there is a risk for tooth decay even for nine month olds.

“Parents need to pay attention to baby teeth — they aren’t disposable,” says Dr. Hayes

In adulthood, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that nearly one-third of adults in the U.S. have untreated tooth decay.

Obviously, early detection is very important. In the early stages, it is common that the decay causes relatively little to no pain at all, and can easily be detected during a routine dental exam.

A common question we receive here at our office in Brooklyn Heights is the question of whether or not overall health conditions are indicative of potential dental health issues.

The answer is yes.

Diann Bomkamp, a clinical dental hygienist and president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association, claims that smoking and certain medications are risk factors for periodontal disease. “There’s a direct relation between gum disease and other diseases,” says Ms. Bomkamp. “If you’re on medications for high blood pressure or epilepsy, or have diabetes, visit the dentist on a more routine basis.”

A very sobering notion, but it is important to know how people’s overall health conditions can trickle down to oral health conditions.

Entering later adulthood, we see people living longer, and thus maintaining a cautious in respect to oral health.

Older people are keeping their natural teeth; and this is due to their commitment to dental health. However, continuing to schedule regular dental appointments to ensure their oral health remains in good shape is the best course of action for older adults.

Even those with dentures should still take precautionary measures.

“Many older patients don’t think they need to go to the dentist, but they might not be cleaning their dentures correctly,” says Bomkamp.

Oral health is not exclusive to any particular age, thus making it an integral part of every stage of life.

If you have any questions or would like to make an appointment with our dentists, Dr. Evelina Tolchinsky DDS or Dr. Inna Trogan DDS, then please call our office today! (718) 246-5677

Our dentists have served the residents of Brooklyn Heights, Fort Greene, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Dumbo, and all of our other surrounding New York communities for years.

You can find our office in the heart of beautiful Brooklyn Heights at 100 Pineapple Walk, Brooklyn, NY 11201