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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

My intense love for candy, cakes, and everything in between started as a child. I simply couldn't go one day without something sweet to eat. But my love for all things sweet took a toll on my teeth. My dentist diagnosed me with seven cavities, each one a different size and depth. After sitting through four long dental appointments, I decided to make a change. I now monitor my diet and only eat things that benefit my oral health. I'm here to help you take better care of your teeth. My blog offers tips on how to improve your diet, maintain good oral hygiene, and many other topics. Hopefully, you can learn to overcome your bad habits just as I did. Good luck with your future dental health.

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Dental Health and Food: Learning to Eat Better

Why Should Consider Getting Braces As An Older Adult

by Eric Bailey

You're never too old to get braces. Instead, your orthodontist considers your dental health to determine if braces are the right way to correct any problems you might be having. Adult braces have been common for many years, and now braces for older adults are becoming popular too. Here are some reasons you may want to get braces when you're nearing retirement age or older.

You Can Afford To Spend Money On Yourself

While it's an ideal situation to have braces applied when you're young, not all parents can afford to pay for braces. Braces are often neglected due to the cost unless a child's teeth are in very bad condition. Once you're a young adult, you have your own kids to worry about and put first. Your money may go toward their braces instead of yours, and then it's time to pay for college. Once your kids are grown and living their own lives, it's time to focus on the things you want. As you near retirement age, you may be in a better financial place to spend money on getting the braces you've always wanted so you can have a pretty smile.

You Don't Want Old Looking Teeth

While a beautiful smile with straight and bright white teeth is a goal of many young people, older adults have often been content with older teeth that are stained and crooked due to changes that come with age or crooked teeth that have lasted a lifetime. If you're older, you may feel bright white teeth are only for the younger crowd, but that's not true any longer. Many older adults well past retirement age are undergoing dental treatments to give them the perfect smile they've always wanted. For some, it may mean getting denture implants. However, if you've taken good care of your teeth all of your life and they're in excellent or good shape, then having them straightened and whitened will make you feel good about your appearance no matter what your age.

Your Teeth Bother You Because Of Shifting

Cosmetic improvement is an excellent reason for getting braces when you're older, but you may also want braces to fix a dental problem you might have. Your teeth can shift as you age due to bone loss or a missing tooth, and that can affect your ability to chew properly. It might also cause pain in your teeth or even jaw pain if you have to alter the way you chew. Your teeth might have a straight appearance, but you could have an overbite that makes eating challenging. Whether your teeth have shifted or you've always had a problem with your bite, getting it corrected with braces could be important as you age. You need good teeth in your golden years so you can maintain a healthy diet.

Your Teeth Are Difficult To Keep Clean

When you have spacing issues such as teeth being too close together or being so far apart that food gets caught between them, that can lead to problems with bacteria getting caught in the teeth. This leads to problems like bad breath and tooth decay. More importantly, tooth and gum disease is linked to health problems that can spread throughout the body. Cleaning your teeth every day is important for your oral and general health. Braces help your teeth become more evenly spaced so you can clean between them and keep food out of gaps to prevent tooth and gum disease.

If you think braces could help the way your teeth work when you chew or improve your smile, then talk to your dentist no matter what your age. You might choose from traditional braces or clear aligner trays, but your dentist can find a way to help you achieve your goal of healthier teeth and a brighter smile that lasts a lifetime. Contact a dentist, like Donald E. Snyder Orthodontics, to get started.

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